NameCensus.

UK surname

Kersey

Derived from a place name meaning "watercress island" in Old English, referring to someone who lived there.

In the 1881 census there were 574 people recorded with the Kersey surname, ranking it #6,073 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 902, ranked #6,292, down from #6,073 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Iken, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kersey is 925 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.1%.

1881 census count

574

Ranked #6,073

Modern count

902

2016, ranked #6,292

Peak year

2010

925 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kersey had 574 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,073 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 902 in 2016, ranked #6,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 735 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kersey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kersey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kersey 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 492 #5,084
1861 historical 338 #7,541
1881 historical 574 #6,073
1891 historical 605 #6,341
1901 historical 685 #6,388
1911 historical 735 #5,846
1997 modern 845 #6,273
1998 modern 862 #6,364
1999 modern 887 #6,280
2000 modern 869 #6,341
2001 modern 842 #6,387
2002 modern 873 #6,330
2003 modern 849 #6,351
2004 modern 827 #6,493
2005 modern 826 #6,443
2006 modern 825 #6,463
2007 modern 846 #6,400
2008 modern 868 #6,310
2009 modern 906 #6,233
2010 modern 925 #6,245
2011 modern 906 #6,297
2012 modern 892 #6,285
2013 modern 915 #6,267
2014 modern 918 #6,282
2015 modern 914 #6,258
2016 modern 902 #6,292

Geography

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Where Kerseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Iken, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge and Suffolk Coastal. 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 Iken Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 004 Torridge
2 Suffolk Coastal 007 Suffolk Coastal
3 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal
4 Suffolk Coastal 004 Suffolk Coastal
5 Suffolk Coastal 008 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kersey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kersey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kersey, 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 Kersey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kersey 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Kersey is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kersey is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kersey falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kersey 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 Kersey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kersey

The surname Kersey has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cirse" and "eg," which together translate to "cherry island." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a place where cherry trees grew abundantly on an island or near a river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kersey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Kerseia," referring to a settlement in Suffolk, England. This village likely gave rise to the surname, with individuals adopting it as a means of identifying their place of origin.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John de Kersey was mentioned in historical records from Suffolk. He was a landowner and played a role in local affairs during that time. Another early bearer of the name was William de Kersey, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273.

During the 16th century, the surname Kersey gained prominence through the work of John Kersey, an English mathematician and writer born in 1616. He authored several influential works, including "The Elements of Algebra" and "The Elements of Mathematical Art." His contributions to the field of mathematics and education were significant.

In the literary realm, Thomas Kersey, born in 1669, was an English poet and playwright. He is best known for his satirical works, including "The Honourable Frolic" and "The Smock-Alley Fair." His witty and often biting commentary on contemporary society earned him recognition among his peers.

Another notable figure was Sir John Kersey, a British naval officer who lived from 1724 to 1801. He served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and played a crucial role in several important naval battles, earning him respect and admiration for his bravery and leadership.

Over the centuries, the Kersey surname has been associated with various places in England, including Kersey in Suffolk, as well as settlements in Essex, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire, among others. Variations in spelling, such as Kersie, Kersy, and Kersee, were also present throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kersey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kersey 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. Suffolk leads with 224 Kerseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.96x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 224 32.96x
Middlesex 122 2.19x
Kent 33 1.73x
Essex 30 2.72x
Surrey 23 0.85x
Norfolk 21 2.45x
Hampshire 19 1.66x
Yorkshire 15 0.27x
Gloucestershire 14 1.28x
Durham 11 0.66x
Westmorland 7 5.71x
Lancashire 6 0.09x
Wiltshire 6 1.22x
Sussex 5 0.53x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.19x
Hertfordshire 4 1.04x
Northumberland 4 0.48x
Oxfordshire 4 1.16x
Warwickshire 4 0.28x
Cornwall 3 0.47x
Huntingdonshire 3 2.71x
Lincolnshire 3 0.34x
Devon 2 0.17x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Dorset 1 0.27x
Northamptonshire 1 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.56x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Iken in Suffolk leads with 30 Kerseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4761.90x.

Place Total Index
Iken 30 4761.90x
St George Hanover Square 21 21.36x
Ipswich St Margaret 17 73.72x
Islington London 15 2.77x
Ipswich St Mathew 14 73.49x
Tottenham 14 15.76x
Deptford St Paul 13 8.85x
Hadleigh 13 197.27x
Bow London 11 15.49x
Kingston On Thames 10 15.31x
Lowestoft 10 31.15x
Maldon St Marys 10 378.79x
Paddington London 9 4.39x
Poplar London 9 8.55x
St Andrew Holborn London 9 37.25x
Tunstall 9 762.71x
Aldeburgh 8 199.01x
Holy Trinity 8 6.02x
Portsea 8 3.57x
Benhall 7 588.24x
Westbury On Trym 7 18.88x
Appleby St Lawrence 6 215.05x
Bishopwearmouth 6 4.21x
Burnham Overy 6 508.47x
Debenham 6 265.49x
Great Bealings 6 1090.91x
Knodishall 6 697.67x
Lakenheath 6 167.13x
Limehouse London 6 9.80x
Plumstead 6 9.45x
Swindon 6 15.68x
Wetherden 6 631.58x
Woodbridge 6 69.04x
Cheltenham 5 5.92x
Great Chesterford 5 287.36x
Great Fransham 5 793.65x
Helmingham 5 769.23x
Killinghall 5 387.60x
Monewden 5 1190.48x
Raydon 5 495.05x
Romsey Extra 5 73.53x
Rotherhithe 5 7.25x
West Ham 5 2.06x
Crowfield 4 588.24x
Framsden 4 264.90x
Gorleston 4 23.16x
Hamble Le Rice 4 506.33x
Ipswich St Clement 4 23.15x
Ipswich St Peter 4 43.72x
Jesmond 4 34.25x
Mile End Old Town London 4 3.37x
Oxford St Thomas 4 24.88x
St Pancras London 4 0.89x
Westoe 4 4.25x
Whitton 4 330.58x
Winston 4 701.75x
Writtle 4 88.89x
Beccles 3 27.42x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.24x
Bramfield 3 250.00x
Brighton 3 1.58x
Bromley 3 10.34x
Constantine 3 81.52x
Edgbaston 3 6.88x
Everton 3 1.42x
Great Grimsby 3 5.30x
Hatfield 3 38.46x
Lee 3 10.85x
Little Bentley 3 500.00x
Mendlesham 3 139.53x
Shoreditch London 3 1.24x
Stockton 3 1363.64x
Worlingworth 3 243.90x
Biddlesdon 2 833.33x
Chipping Campden 2 56.18x
Greenwich 2 2.25x
Hackney London 2 0.64x
Saxmundham 2 79.37x
Sudbourne 2 181.82x
Wreningham 2 215.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 35
William 25
John 22
Robert 16
Thomas 11
Frederick 10
Henry 9
Alfred 8
Edward 8
Arthur 7
Charles 7
Samuel 7
Richard 6
Joseph 5
Walter 5
Harry 4
James 4
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Caleb 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Alexander 1
Alfd. 1
Benjamin 1
Benjamin.F. 1
Calib 1
Edgar 1
Ephraim 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Hammond 1
Hy. 1
J.A. 1
Jesse 1
John.W. 1
Josiah 1
Josieph 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Murray 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
R.Howard 1

FAQ

Kersey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kersey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 574 people were recorded with the Kersey surname. That placed it at #6,073 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kersey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 902 in 2016. That gives Kersey a modern rank of #6,292.

What does the Kersey surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "watercress island" in Old English, referring to someone who lived there.

What does the Kersey map show?

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