NameCensus.

UK surname

Kermode

A surname derived from a placename referring to someone from Kermode in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 160 people recorded with the Kermode surname, ranking it #14,860 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 308, ranked #14,479, up from #14,860 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, West Derby and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Tyneside, Flintshire and Oban South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kermode is 367 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.5%.

1881 census count

160

Ranked #14,860

Modern count

308

2016, ranked #14,479

Peak year

2000

367 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kermode had 160 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,860 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 308 in 2016, ranked #14,479.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 297 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kermode surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kermode surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kermode 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 155 #12,604
1861 historical 86 #22,810
1881 historical 160 #14,860
1891 historical 214 #14,214
1901 historical 266 #12,617
1911 historical 297 #11,524
1997 modern 346 #12,273
1998 modern 362 #12,259
1999 modern 364 #12,267
2000 modern 367 #12,153
2001 modern 362 #12,076
2002 modern 355 #12,471
2003 modern 346 #12,511
2004 modern 338 #12,781
2005 modern 320 #13,243
2006 modern 320 #13,289
2007 modern 323 #13,351
2008 modern 331 #13,237
2009 modern 338 #13,302
2010 modern 340 #13,498
2011 modern 330 #13,664
2012 modern 325 #13,720
2013 modern 330 #13,777
2014 modern 329 #13,918
2015 modern 314 #14,275
2016 modern 308 #14,479

Geography

Back to top

Where Kermodes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, West Derby, Liverpool, Llanina and Walton-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Tyneside, Flintshire, Oban South, Liverpool and Barrow-in-Furness. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 West Derby Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Llanina Cardiganshire
5 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Tyneside 030 North Tyneside
2 Flintshire 013 Flintshire
3 Oban South Argyll and Bute
4 Liverpool 059 Liverpool
5 Barrow-in-Furness 003 Barrow-in-Furness

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kermode

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kermode

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kermode, 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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kermode is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kermode is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kermode falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kermode is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Kermode

The surname Kermode has its origins in the Isle of Man, a small island located in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. The name is believed to have derived from the Old Norse words "kyr" meaning cow and "mōdr" meaning man or keeper, suggesting that the earliest bearers of the name were cow herders or cattle farmers.

The name can be traced back to the medieval period, with records indicating that it was present in the Isle of Man as early as the 13th century. One of the earliest known references to the name comes from the Manx Book of Pleas, a legal document from the late 14th century, which mentions a "Thomas Kermode" as a witness in a land dispute.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Kermote," "Kermood," and "Kermud," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common in those times. The Manx dialect also influenced the spelling, with the name sometimes appearing as "Kiarmode" or "Kermoade."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Kermode was William Kermode, born around 1550 in the parish of Malew on the Isle of Man. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a churchwarden in the late 16th century.

In the 18th century, the name gained recognition beyond the Isle of Man when Robert Kermode (1709-1787), a Manx poet and translator, published his works. He is considered one of the first significant literary figures from the island and played a crucial role in preserving the Manx language and culture.

Another notable figure with the Kermode surname was Philip Moore Callow Kermode (1835-1923), a Manx historian and antiquarian. He was instrumental in preserving and documenting the island's history and was a founding member of the Manx Society for the Publication of National Documents.

The name Kermode has also been associated with several place names on the Isle of Man, such as Kermode Beg and Kermode Mooar, which were likely named after families or individuals who lived in those areas.

In addition to the Isle of Man, the surname Kermode has been found in other parts of the British Isles, including England, Scotland, and Ireland, likely due to migration and intermarriage. However, its roots and strongest historical presence remain tied to the Isle of Man.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Kermode families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kermode 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. Isle of Man leads with 554 Kermodes recorded in 1881 and an index of 428.33x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 554 428.33x
Lancashire 120 1.45x
Cheshire 16 1.04x
Middlesex 7 0.10x
Cumberland 6 1.00x
Yorkshire 4 0.06x
Argyllshire 1 0.52x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.23x
Devon 1 0.07x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Surrey 1 0.03x
Worcestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lonan in Isle of Man leads with 105 Kermodes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1341.00x.

Place Total Index
Lonan 105 1341.00x
Onchan 101 271.07x
Malew 55 486.73x
Rushen 52 594.29x
Marown 50 2118.64x
German 49 695.04x
German Peel 37 496.64x
Toxteth Park 35 12.51x
Maughold 32 320.64x
Everton 19 7.21x
Douglas 15 802.14x
Patrick 15 238.10x
Kirkdale 14 10.07x
Braddan 12 169.97x
Liverpool 10 1.99x
West Derby 8 3.31x
Andreas 7 199.43x
Ballaugh 7 303.03x
Latchford 7 68.56x
Manchester 7 1.88x
St Anne 7 503.60x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 4.57x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 7.62x
Bride 5 282.49x
Congleton 5 18.83x
Dalton In Furness 5 15.67x
Arbory 4 141.84x
Arlecdon 4 25.08x
Barrow In Furness 4 3.56x
Little Bolton 4 3.76x
Sheffield 4 1.82x
Islington London 3 0.44x
Appleton 2 57.47x
St Luke London 2 1.79x
Whitehaven 2 6.26x
Birkenhead 1 0.82x
Chelsea London 1 0.48x
East Teignmouth 1 16.86x
Great Crosby 1 4.44x
Hanbury 1 40.65x
Hyde 1 2.20x
Kilfinan 1 19.34x
Lezayre 1 17.24x
Pendleton In Salford 1 1.02x
Portsea 1 0.36x
St Marythe Less 1 37.31x
Temple Guiting 1 78.74x
Warrington 1 1.02x
Westminster St Margaret 1 2.98x
Wimbledon 1 2.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Margaret 31
Elizabeth 22
Jane 20
Catherine 18
Eleanor 17
Ann 14
Eliza 12
Annie 10
Ellen 10
Emily 10
Sarah 10
Isabella 7
Anne 5
Esther 5
Fanny 5
Margt. 5
Agnes 4
Anna 4
Christian 4
Frances 4
Amelia 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Ellenor 3
Emma 3
Helena 3
Lydia 3
Margret 3
Rebecca 3
Alice 2
Bertha 2
C. 2
Christiana 2
Clara 2
Harriet 2
Jemima 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Liza 2
Lizzie 2
Margrett 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Meta 2
Sophia 2
Cath. 1
Elinor 1
Elizth. 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 85
William 61
Thomas 34
James 27
Robert 22
Henry 16
Edward 15
George 14
Joseph 7
Charles 6
Frederick 5
Arthur 4
Richard 4
Alfred 3
Francis 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Caesar 2
Evan 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Louis 2
Nicholas 2
Philip 2
Willm. 2
Allan 1
Arnold 1
Benjamin 1
Christophor 1
Daniel 1
Eleanor 1
Fletcher 1
Griffith 1
Jas. 1
Jeremiah 1
Leece 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Mary 1
Mathew 1
Norman 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Stantey 1
Stephen 1
W. 1
Willie 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Kermode surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kermode surname in 1881?

In 1881, 160 people were recorded with the Kermode surname. That placed it at #14,860 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kermode surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 308 in 2016. That gives Kermode a modern rank of #14,479.

What does the Kermode surname mean?

A surname derived from a placename referring to someone from Kermode in Scotland.

What does the Kermode map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kermode 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.