NameCensus.

UK surname

Kestell

An English habitational name derived from a place called Kestel or Kestell.

In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Kestell surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 101, ranked #30,929, down from #20,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Austell and St Breock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kestell is 135 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.4%.

1881 census count

94

Ranked #20,467

Modern count

101

2016, ranked #30,929

Peak year

1911

135 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kestell had 94 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016, ranked #30,929.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 135 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kestell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kestell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kestell 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 56 #23,235
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 94 #20,467
1891 historical 83 #26,376
1901 historical 102 #22,596
1911 historical 135 #19,058
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 111 #25,990
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 108 #26,549
2001 modern 107 #26,328
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 105 #26,940
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 102 #30,624
2016 modern 101 #30,929

Geography

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Where Kestells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Austell, St Breock, Aberdare and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 St Austell Cornwall
3 St Breock Cornwall
4 Aberdare Glamorganshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 027 Cornwall
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 026 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 006 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kestell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kestell

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

Kestell 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

Kestell falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kestell

The surname Kestell has its origins in England, dating back to the early 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "cest" and "heal," which together mean "a ridge of chestnut trees." This suggests that the name was initially associated with a particular area or settlement characterized by the presence of chestnut trees on a ridge.

In the medieval period, the name was often spelled as Kestel, Kestell, or Kestylle, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire from the year 1182, where it is listed as "Robert de Kestel."

The Kestell surname has been found in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which document the names of landowners and freeholders in various counties. In this record, the name appears as "William de Kestel" in Oxfordshire.

Over the centuries, the Kestell family likely spread across different regions of England, with some members potentially migrating to other parts of the British Isles or even to the American colonies during the period of English exploration and settlement.

Notable individuals bearing the Kestell surname include:

1. John Kestell (c. 1590-1660), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Tredington, Worcestershire. 2. William Kestell (1672-1736), a British merchant and landowner who owned estates in Gloucestershire. 3. Elizabeth Kestell (1694-1768), an English writer and poet known for her collection of religious poetry titled "Divine Meditations." 4. Sir Robert Kestell (1810-1878), a British soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Western Australia from 1873 to 1877. 5. James Kestell (1854-1932), a South African writer and journalist who played a significant role in the development of Afrikaans literature.

The surname Kestell has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been associated with various notable figures across different fields, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kestell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kestell 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. Cornwall leads with 36 Kestells recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.32x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 36 34.32x
Glamorgan 26 16.11x
Devon 19 9.85x
Hampshire 6 3.16x
Suffolk 3 2.66x
Middlesex 2 0.22x
Worcestershire 2 1.65x
Royal Navy 1 9.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Austell in Cornwall leads with 14 Kestells recorded in 1881 and an index of 389.97x.

Place Total Index
St Austell 14 389.97x
Stoke Damerel 12 88.89x
Cardiff St John 11 208.73x
St Kew 11 3142.86x
Aberdare 7 63.18x
Roath 6 81.86x
Portsea 4 10.74x
Baylham 3 1666.67x
East Stonehouse 3 78.95x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 20.19x
St Breock 3 526.32x
Antony 2 198.02x
Kingston 2 740.74x
Loughor 2 232.56x
Ombersley 2 298.51x
Exminster 1 144.93x
Falmouth 1 26.95x
Paddington London 1 2.94x
Royal Navy 1 10.59x
St Clement 1 91.74x
St Clement Danes London 1 52.08x
St Enoder 1 277.78x
St Erme 1 625.00x
St Stephens By Saltash 1 222.22x
St Winnow 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 5
Emma 3
Jane 3
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Florence 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1
Levinia 1
Margaret 1
Minnie 1
Sleana 1
Slenia 1
Susan 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
Charles 4
Edward 4
James 4
Edwin 3
John 3
Alfred 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Thomas 2
Willie 2
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Janice 1
Jas.Nance 1
Nicholas 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Rd.D. 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Vaughn 1

FAQ

Kestell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kestell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Kestell surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kestell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 101 in 2016. That gives Kestell a modern rank of #30,929.

What does the Kestell surname mean?

An English habitational name derived from a place called Kestel or Kestell.

What does the Kestell map show?

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