NameCensus.

UK surname

Kester

An English occupational surname for a maker or seller of a cheese strainer or sieve.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Kester surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 248, ranked #16,910, up from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swavesey, London parishes and Hardwicke. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, North Warwickshire and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kester is 285 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 103.3%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

248

2016, ranked #16,910

Peak year

2000

285 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kester had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 248 in 2016, ranked #16,910.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 212 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kester surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kester surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kester 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 123 #17,914
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 144 #18,842
1901 historical 166 #17,011
1911 historical 212 #14,423
1997 modern 277 #14,253
1998 modern 277 #14,646
1999 modern 275 #14,789
2000 modern 285 #14,422
2001 modern 273 #14,614
2002 modern 265 #15,197
2003 modern 269 #14,855
2004 modern 265 #15,110
2005 modern 244 #15,900
2006 modern 239 #16,224
2007 modern 244 #16,186
2008 modern 244 #16,346
2009 modern 251 #16,368
2010 modern 248 #16,886
2011 modern 260 #16,188
2012 modern 245 #16,745
2013 modern 247 #16,935
2014 modern 249 #16,954
2015 modern 246 #16,994
2016 modern 248 #16,910

Geography

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Where Kesters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swavesey, London parishes, Hardwicke, Stranton and Madingley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, North Warwickshire, Bedford, Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire. 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 Swavesey Huntingdonshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hardwicke Cambridgeshire
4 Stranton Durham
5 Madingley Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
2 North Warwickshire 002 North Warwickshire
3 Bedford 004 Bedford
4 Huntingdonshire 021 Huntingdonshire
5 South Cambridgeshire 010 South Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kester

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kester

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kester 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

Kester 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

Kester 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 Kester 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 Kester, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kester

The surname Kester originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "cester," which means "a dweller of a Roman town or village." This suggests that the name was initially given to people who lived in or near the remains of Roman settlements.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Kestere." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of land holdings in England, and it provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that time.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in various records as "Kestere" and "Kesteir." These variations reflect the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time. Notably, the surname is often associated with place names containing the word "cester," such as Leicester, Manchester, and Worcester.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Kester was John Kester, born around 1320 in Leicestershire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local council.

Another notable figure was William Kester, born in 1445 in Worcestershire, England. He was a respected scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Oxford.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with Sir Thomas Kester, born in 1520 in Cheshire, England. He was a successful merchant and served as the Mayor of Chester from 1568 to 1569.

During the 17th century, the surname Kester appeared in various records across England. One notable individual was Robert Kester, born in 1642 in Manchester. He was a prominent Puritan minister and author of several religious works.

In the 18th century, the name Kester was associated with John Kester, born in 1712 in Yorkshire, England. He was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Kester who have left their mark throughout history. The name's origins can be traced back to medieval England, and it has been carried by notable figures across various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kester families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kester 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 77 Kesters recorded in 1881 and an index of 102.16x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 77 102.16x
Middlesex 14 1.18x
Hampshire 5 2.05x
Northamptonshire 5 4.47x
Yorkshire 5 0.42x
Durham 4 1.13x
Warwickshire 4 1.33x
Buckinghamshire 3 4.17x
Huntingdonshire 2 8.46x
Kent 1 0.25x
Staffordshire 1 0.25x
Sussex 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swavesey in Cambridgeshire leads with 23 Kesters recorded in 1881 and an index of 4791.67x.

Place Total Index
Swavesey 23 4791.67x
Madingley 18 18000.00x
Hardwick 14 17500.00x
Clerkenwell London 7 24.92x
Norton 5 2941.18x
Portsea 5 10.46x
Aston 4 4.84x
St George Hanover Square 4 19.08x
Stranton 4 33.56x
Teversham 4 4000.00x
Little Eversden 3 3333.33x
St Andrewthe Great 3 309.28x
St Giles Cambridge 3 309.28x
Upton Cum Chalvey 3 104.53x
Cottenham 2 200.00x
Hemingford Grey 2 555.56x
Landbeach 2 952.38x
St Andrewthe Less 2 23.23x
Sutton Stoneferry 2 59.35x
Brighton 1 2.47x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 23.64x
Chesterton 1 43.10x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 30.40x
Enfield 1 12.80x
Follifoot 1 500.00x
Holy Trinity 1 3.53x
Impington 1 625.00x
St Marylebone London 1 1.57x
Whitechapel London 1 8.53x
Willenhall 1 13.30x
York Mint Yard St 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 8
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Margaret 3
Ann 2
E. 2
Isabel 2
Jane 2
Ada 1
Agness 1
Alfred 1
Alice 1
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Letitia 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Mercy 1
Naomi 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 8
Joseph 6
Charles 5
Henry 5
James 4
Edward 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
A. 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
C. 1
D. 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Kidman 1
Leonard 1
Paul 1

FAQ

Kester surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kester surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Kester surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kester surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 248 in 2016. That gives Kester a modern rank of #16,910.

What does the Kester surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a maker or seller of a cheese strainer or sieve.

What does the Kester map show?

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