UK surname
From an English surname derived from the village of Kyre in Worcestershire.
In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Kery surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #30,339 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Dennis, Bury and Ardingley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kery is 191 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 65.2%.
1881 census count
23
Ranked #30,339
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1861
191 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kery surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kery surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 43 | #25,518 |
| 1861 | historical | 191 | #12,467 |
| 1881 | historical | 23 | #30,339 |
| 1891 | historical | 102 | #23,719 |
| 1901 | historical | 19 | #31,911 |
| 1911 | historical | 2 | #34,020 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Dennis, Bury, Ardingley, Manchester and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Dennis | Cornwall |
| 2 | Bury | Lancashire |
| 3 | Ardingley | Sussex |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Bishop Wearmouth | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kery surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kery, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Kery surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kery household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Kery is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kery is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kery, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname KERY has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ker," which means a marsh or fen, suggesting that the name was likely an occupational or locational one, referring to someone who lived near a marshy area or worked in such an environment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KERY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Keri" and "Kerie," indicating the presence of families bearing this surname in different parts of the country.
During the 13th century, the name KERY was particularly prevalent in the counties of Lincolnshire and Norfolk, where several records mention individuals with this surname. For example, a certain Roger Kery was documented in the Assize Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1292, while a John Kery was recorded in the Norfolk Feet of Fines in 1301.
In the 14th century, the name KERY gained further prominence with the rise of William Kery, a prominent merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire. Born around 1320, William Kery owned substantial properties in the region and was known for his successful trading ventures, particularly in the wool industry.
Another notable figure bearing the KERY surname was Sir Thomas Kery, a knight who lived during the 15th century. Born around 1425 in Norfolk, Sir Thomas Kery served as a member of the King's Council and was involved in various military campaigns during the Wars of the Roses.
In the 16th century, the name KERY was associated with several influential families in England, including the Kerys of Lincolnshire and the Kerys of Norfolk. One prominent member of the latter family was Sir Robert Kery, born in 1550, who held significant landholdings and served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Throughout the centuries, the KERY surname has also been linked to various place names and locations, such as Kery Fen in Lincolnshire and Kery Marsh in Norfolk, further reinforcing its connection to marshy or fen-like areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kery surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Derbyshire leads with 8 Kerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.77x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 8 | 22.77x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 13.23x |
| Oxfordshire | 3 | 21.65x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 4.35x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.89x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 2.02x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 2.56x |
| Somerset | 1 | 2.77x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Normanton in Derbyshire leads with 5 Kerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| South Normanton | 5 | 2000.00x |
| Bampton | 3 | 2727.27x |
| Codnor Loscoe | 3 | 1071.43x |
| Stapleford | 3 | 1200.00x |
| South Stoneham | 2 | 200.00x |
| Arnold | 1 | 227.27x |
| Bath St Michael | 1 | 555.56x |
| Dukinfield | 1 | 43.67x |
| Faxfleet | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 18.08x |
| Llantwit Lower | 1 | 294.12x |
| Westminster St Margaret | 1 | 92.59x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kery surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kery surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kery households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Coal Miner | 4 |
| ... | 1 |
| Coal Miner Wife | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drapers Clerk | 1 |
| Frame Tenter | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Groom (D) | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer (Ag) | 1 |
| Platelayer | 1 |
| Railway Plate Layer | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Service | 1 |
| Silk Frame Work Knitter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Kery surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Kery a modern rank of #37,829.
From an English surname derived from the village of Kyre in Worcestershire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kery bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.