NameCensus.

UK surname

Kerby

Derived from a place name meaning "church settlement" in Old Norse, or from the Old Norse byname "karr," meaning "curly-haired."

In the 1881 census there were 554 people recorded with the Kerby surname, ranking it #6,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 661, ranked #8,066, down from #6,228 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Malvern Hills, Stratford-on-Avon and North Warwickshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kerby is 1,120 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.3%.

1881 census count

554

Ranked #6,228

Modern count

661

2016, ranked #8,066

Peak year

1861

1,120 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kerby had 554 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,228 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 661 in 2016, ranked #8,066.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,120 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kerby surname distribution map

The map shows where the Kerby surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Kerby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kerby over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 785 #3,397
1861 historical 1,120 #2,505
1881 historical 554 #6,228
1891 historical 980 #4,218
1901 historical 616 #6,930
1911 historical 598 #6,857
1997 modern 640 #7,750
1998 modern 688 #7,582
1999 modern 677 #7,715
2000 modern 652 #7,916
2001 modern 640 #7,883
2002 modern 663 #7,826
2003 modern 655 #7,798
2004 modern 660 #7,748
2005 modern 670 #7,602
2006 modern 668 #7,637
2007 modern 663 #7,754
2008 modern 657 #7,851
2009 modern 661 #7,969
2010 modern 685 #7,907
2011 modern 679 #7,873
2012 modern 663 #7,943
2013 modern 665 #8,068
2014 modern 684 #7,925
2015 modern 669 #8,002
2016 modern 661 #8,066

Geography

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Where Kerbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, Lambeth, St Marylebone and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Malvern Hills, Stratford-on-Avon, North Warwickshire and Monmouthshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Malvern Hills 001 Malvern Hills
2 Stratford-on-Avon 007 Stratford-on-Avon
3 Stratford-on-Avon 014 Stratford-on-Avon
4 North Warwickshire 007 North Warwickshire
5 Monmouthshire 006 Monmouthshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kerby

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kerby surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kerby

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kerby, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Kerby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kerby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Kerby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kerby is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kerby falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kerby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kerby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kerby

The surname Kerby has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "cyr" meaning "churn" and "by" meaning "farm" or "village." Thus, Kerby likely referred to a settlement where butter or cheese was produced.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kerby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Chirebi," reflecting the Old English spelling.

During the 13th century, the name evolved into various spellings such as Kyrby, Kyreby, and Kyriby, as documented in various medieval records and charters. These variations highlight the fluid nature of surname spellings in those times.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Kerby was John de Kerby, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1208. This official record of financial accounts suggests that the Kerby family had established roots in the northern county of Yorkshire by the early 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname Kerby was also associated with the village of Kirby in Leicestershire, which derived its name from the Old Norse word "kirkju-by," meaning "church village." This connection is evident in the records of one William de Kyrkeby, who was mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1334.

Notable historical figures with the surname Kerby include:

1. Sir Walter Kerby (c. 1510 - 1589), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Derbyshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. John Kerby (c. 1616 - 1690), a Puritan minister and author who emigrated from England to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century. 3. Robert Kerby (1730 - 1803), a prominent Scottish merchant and shipowner based in Greenock, renowned for his involvement in the transatlantic trade. 4. Mary Kerby (1789 - 1865), an English author and poet, best known for her works on religious themes and moral education. 5. Sir John Kerby (1837 - 1914), a British diplomat who served as Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire and played a significant role in the negotiations leading to the Treaty of Berlin in 1878.

While the surname Kerby has evolved over centuries and spread across various regions, its origins can be traced back to the English medieval period, reflecting the significance of locational names and the rich history embedded within them.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kerby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kerby surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 129 Kerbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 129 2.42x
Hampshire 51 4.66x
Warwickshire 38 2.82x
Lancashire 32 0.51x
Oxfordshire 26 7.89x
Gloucestershire 25 2.39x
Wiltshire 23 4.87x
Surrey 21 0.81x
Somerset 18 2.10x
Durham 15 0.94x
Yorkshire 14 0.26x
Berkshire 13 3.25x
Dorset 13 3.71x
Norfolk 13 1.58x
Staffordshire 13 0.72x
Northamptonshire 12 2.39x
Worcestershire 11 1.58x
Derbyshire 10 1.20x
Kent 9 0.49x
Cornwall 8 1.32x
Glamorgan 7 0.75x
Leicestershire 7 1.18x
Sussex 7 0.78x
Lanarkshire 6 0.35x
Essex 5 0.47x
Shropshire 4 0.87x
Hertfordshire 3 0.82x
Lincolnshire 3 0.35x
Northumberland 2 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.28x
Bedfordshire 1 0.36x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.30x
Channel Islands 1 0.63x
Cumberland 1 0.22x
Devon 1 0.09x
Monmouthshire 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 1 1.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 20 Kerbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.33x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 20 9.33x
Islington London 18 3.48x
Chelsea London 12 7.46x
Edgbaston 12 28.76x
Kings Sutton 11 493.27x
Stretford 11 31.57x
Southampton St Mary 10 14.54x
St George In East London 10 19.92x
St Pancras London 10 2.33x
Westcote Barton 10 2325.58x
Chadderton 9 29.08x
Derby St Werburgh 9 18.66x
Kidderminster Borough 9 22.07x
Shinfield 9 381.36x
Allesley 8 451.98x
Aston 8 2.16x
Bisley 8 84.39x
Castle Eden 8 496.89x
Shoreditch London 8 3.46x
Bromley London 7 5.96x
Burton Upon Trent 7 16.61x
Canford Magna 7 346.53x
Coventry Holy Trinity 7 17.42x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 7 179.03x
Barony 6 1.37x
Clerkenwell London 6 4.76x
Crewkerne 6 65.79x
Damerham 6 530.97x
Elton 6 27.42x
Northrepps 6 571.43x
Paddington London 6 3.06x
Preston 6 38.19x
Shipdham 6 215.05x
Southampton St Michael 6 166.67x
St Giles In Fields London 6 22.92x
Westbury 6 54.50x
Wingate 6 55.15x
Ashby De La Zouch 5 36.47x
Bedminster 5 6.20x
Droxford 5 119.90x
Hackney London 5 1.67x
Helston 5 79.62x
Lechlade 5 232.56x
Poplar London 5 4.96x
Roath 5 11.85x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.73x
Friern Barnet 4 34.04x
Fulham London 4 5.17x
Hilton 4 330.58x
Kingston On Thames 4 6.40x
Ludlow St Lawrence 4 43.62x
Salisbury St Martin 4 81.47x
Walcot 4 8.75x
Battersea 3 1.53x
Bow London 3 4.42x
Hampstead London 3 3.61x
Handsworth 3 6.76x
Horton In Bradford 3 3.63x
Leeds 3 1.00x
Limehouse London 3 5.12x
Rodborough 3 59.41x
Sedgley 3 4.48x
Stockbridge 3 188.68x
Westminster St John 3 4.62x
Weybridge 3 53.76x
Woodford 3 25.17x
Bristol St Augustine 2 11.84x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 5.73x
Camberwell 2 0.59x
Charlbury 2 54.05x
Croydon 2 1.39x
Hampton London 2 22.81x
Ilminster 2 33.33x
Lewisham 2 2.06x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 4.22x
Putney 2 8.22x
Reading St Mary 2 6.23x
St Anne Soho London 2 6.56x
Swepstone 2 208.33x
Wilton 2 59.88x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kerby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kerby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 35
John 29
George 15
Charles 12
Edward 11
James 10
Thomas 10
Joseph 8
Alfred 7
Frederick 7
Henry 7
Richard 7
Walter 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Harry 4
Frank 3
Fredrick 3
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
W. 2
Wm. 2
Augustus 1
Cabeb 1
Chas.H. 1
Chas.Hy. 1
Diver 1
E.S. 1
Emmanuel 1
Felix 1
G. 1
Geo. 1
H.W.G. 1
Jane 1
Jeremiah 1
Jibmy 1
Joe 1
Langford 1
Leonard 1
Michael 1
R. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Kerby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kerby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 554 people were recorded with the Kerby surname. That placed it at #6,228 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kerby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 661 in 2016. That gives Kerby a modern rank of #8,066.

What does the Kerby surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "church settlement" in Old Norse, or from the Old Norse byname "karr," meaning "curly-haired."

What does the Kerby map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kerby bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.