NameCensus.

UK surname

Kerswill

An English surname derived from a place name based on the Old English word "cærse" meaning watercress.

In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Kerswill surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 189, ranked #20,334, down from #16,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, Plymouth and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kerswill is 205 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.0%.

1881 census count

140

Ranked #16,151

Modern count

189

2016, ranked #20,334

Peak year

1901

205 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kerswill had 140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016, ranked #20,334.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 205 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Kerswill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kerswill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kerswill 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 149 #12,967
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 140 #16,151
1891 historical 157 #17,778
1901 historical 205 #14,884
1911 historical 184 #15,742
1997 modern 195 #17,912
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 205 #17,960
2000 modern 196 #18,431
2001 modern 191 #18,453
2002 modern 187 #19,083
2003 modern 183 #19,152
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 168 #20,227
2006 modern 172 #20,073
2007 modern 176 #20,028
2008 modern 182 #19,800
2009 modern 179 #20,418
2010 modern 183 #20,586
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 193 #19,665
2013 modern 190 #20,201
2014 modern 194 #20,097
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 189 #20,334

Geography

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Where Kerswills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone, St Marylebone and Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Devon, Plymouth and Great Yarmouth. 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 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone Devon
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 005 West Devon
2 Plymouth 011 Plymouth
3 Plymouth 024 Plymouth
4 Plymouth 018 Plymouth
5 Great Yarmouth 010 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kerswill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kerswill

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Kerswill is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Kerswill is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kerswill falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kerswill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kerswill

The surname Kerswill is of English origin, emerging in the region of Devon during the late medieval period. Linguists trace its roots to the Old English words "cerse" and "wille," denoting a locality where cress plants grew abundantly near a stream or spring.

Early records indicate that the name was initially spelled as "Cresswill" or "Cressewill," with variations arising from regional dialects and scribal practices. One of the earliest documented instances is found in the Feudal Aids of 1285, which lists a Robert de Cresswille among the landowners of Devon.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various legal and ecclesiastical documents, including the Assize Rolls of Somerset and the Register of the Bishop of Exeter. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 mention a John Cresswill, while the Inquisitiones post mortem of 1395 reference a Thomas Cressewylle.

The Kerswill name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. William Kerswill (c. 1530-1592) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Exeter during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. John Kerswill (1617-1675) was a respected clergyman and author, serving as the vicar of Exeter St. Petrock from 1660 until his death.

In the 18th century, Thomas Kerswill (1713-1789) was a successful farmer and landowner in the village of Clyst St. Mary, Devon. His grandson, also named Thomas Kerswill (1763-1828), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent figure in the local agricultural community.

One of the most renowned individuals bearing the Kerswill name was Sir John Kerswill (1821-1903), a distinguished military officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor in the British Empire, for his actions during the Siege of Lucknow in 1857.

While the Kerswill surname has deep roots in the county of Devon, it has also been found in various other parts of England, as well as in North America and other regions where English settlers migrated. However, its origins can be traced back to the historic landscapes of Devon, where the name first emerged centuries ago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kerswill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kerswill 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. Devon leads with 94 Kerswills recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.07x.

County Total Index
Devon 94 33.07x
Middlesex 22 1.61x
Cornwall 6 3.88x
Caernarfonshire 5 9.06x
Kent 5 1.07x
Derbyshire 4 1.87x
Huntingdonshire 2 7.38x
Surrey 2 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tavistock in Devon leads with 17 Kerswills recorded in 1881 and an index of 524.69x.

Place Total Index
Tavistock 17 524.69x
Plymouth St Andrew 16 73.09x
St Clement Danes London 10 353.36x
Stokefleming 7 1944.44x
Exeter St Mary Steps 6 937.50x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 76.80x
Kingsbridge 5 704.23x
Lee 5 73.96x
Llanystymdwy 5 925.93x
St George Bloomsbury 5 63.86x
West Teignmouth 5 230.41x
Cornwood 4 740.74x
Kensington London 4 5.27x
Normanton 4 220.99x
St Germans 4 370.37x
Dartmouth St Petrox 3 731.71x
Ilfracombe 3 102.39x
Plymouth Charles The 3 23.96x
Brampton 2 357.14x
East Looe 2 317.46x
Ermington 2 194.17x
Exeter St Mary Major 2 116.96x
Holbeton 2 384.62x
Plympton St Mary 2 121.95x
St Marylebone London 2 2.74x
Tormoham 2 16.63x
Dartmouth Townstall 1 86.21x
Devonport 1 30.58x
Diptford 1 322.58x
Exeter St John 1 500.00x
Exeter St Thomas The 1 34.48x
Modbury 1 136.99x
Shoreditch London 1 1.69x
South Brent 1 163.93x
Stoke 1 86.96x
Stoke Damerel 1 5.03x
Sutton 1 20.79x
Wimbledon 1 13.39x
Yealmpton 1 227.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 8
Mary 8
Sarah 6
Eliza 4
Charlotte 3
Jane 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
B. 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Catherine 1
Deborah 1
Ellen 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Hilda 1
Jessie 1
June 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
M.E. 1
Mabel 1
Margret 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Nora 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
George 7
Thomas 6
John 5
Charles 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Fredk. 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Sydney 2
Bedford 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo.T. 1
Harry 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Mansak 1
Nicholas 1
Peter 1
Reginald 1
Reuben 1
Walter 1
Willm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Kerswill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kerswill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Kerswill surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kerswill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016. That gives Kerswill a modern rank of #20,334.

What does the Kerswill surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name based on the Old English word "cærse" meaning watercress.

What does the Kerswill map show?

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