NameCensus.

UK surname

Kevern

A surname derived from an English place name meaning "dwelling by the creek".

In the 1881 census there were 155 people recorded with the Kevern surname, ranking it #15,174 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 267, ranked #16,054, down from #15,174 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Keverne, Illogan and Mylor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kevern is 285 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.3%.

1881 census count

155

Ranked #15,174

Modern count

267

2016, ranked #16,054

Peak year

1998

285 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kevern had 155 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,174 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016, ranked #16,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 210 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kevern surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kevern surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kevern 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 103 #16,835
1861 historical 83 #23,189
1881 historical 155 #15,174
1891 historical 174 #16,520
1901 historical 201 #15,059
1911 historical 210 #14,515
1997 modern 273 #14,417
1998 modern 285 #14,351
1999 modern 278 #14,705
2000 modern 277 #14,688
2001 modern 265 #14,915
2002 modern 275 #14,819
2003 modern 256 #15,377
2004 modern 263 #15,189
2005 modern 249 #15,679
2006 modern 239 #16,224
2007 modern 235 #16,668
2008 modern 251 #16,026
2009 modern 261 #15,926
2010 modern 266 #16,067
2011 modern 264 #16,016
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 269 #15,963
2014 modern 272 #15,949
2015 modern 261 #16,318
2016 modern 267 #16,054

Geography

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Where Keverns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Keverne, Illogan, Mylor, Camborne and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 St Keverne Cornwall
2 Illogan Cornwall
3 Mylor Cornwall
4 Camborne Cornwall
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 062 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 073 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 058 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 055 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 064 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kevern

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kevern

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Kevern 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

Kevern is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kevern 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 Kevern is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kevern

The surname Kevern originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Cornish word "kevren," meaning a ridge or a long, narrow hill. This suggests that the name may have originated in the county of Cornwall, where the Cornish language was once widely spoken.

Some historical references to the name Kevern can be found in ancient records and manuscripts from the medieval period. One such reference is in the Assize Rolls of Cornwall from the year 1284, where a person named Hugo Kevern is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use in Cornwall during the late 13th century.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Kevern was Richard Kevern, who was born in the village of St. Erth, Cornwall, around the year 1380. Records show that he was a landowner and a prominent member of the local community.

Another notable figure with the surname Kevern was John Kevern, who lived in the 16th century. He was a merchant and ship owner based in the town of Fowey, Cornwall, and played an important role in the local maritime trade.

In the 17th century, a family by the name of Kevern resided in the parish of Stoke Climsland, Cornwall. One member of this family, William Kevern, born in 1624, was a noted scholar and author who wrote several treatises on theology and philosophy.

Moving into the 18th century, there was a Thomas Kevern, born in 1702 in the village of Golant, Cornwall, who was a renowned shipbuilder and naval architect. He designed and constructed several ships for the Royal Navy during his lifetime.

Finally, in the 19th century, a notable figure was Henry Kevern, born in 1823 in the town of Bodmin, Cornwall. He was a successful businessman and entrepreneur who founded a successful mining company that operated in various parts of Cornwall and Devon.

While the surname Kevern is not as widespread as some other English surnames, it has a rich history and can be traced back to its origins in the county of Cornwall, where it was likely derived from a descriptive term related to the local geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kevern families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kevern 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 104 Keverns recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.99x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 104 59.99x
Surrey 13 1.74x
Yorkshire 11 0.72x
Devon 10 3.14x
Gloucestershire 9 3.00x
Durham 2 0.44x
Hampshire 2 0.64x
Middlesex 2 0.13x
Warwickshire 2 0.52x
Dorset 1 0.99x
Royal Navy 1 5.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camborne in Cornwall leads with 25 Keverns recorded in 1881 and an index of 350.14x.

Place Total Index
Camborne 25 350.14x
St Keverne 24 2526.32x
St Just In Penwith 14 416.67x
Lambeth 9 6.74x
Illogan 7 152.51x
Madron Penzance 7 111.11x
Plymouth Charles The 7 49.86x
St Erth 7 666.67x
Southcoates 6 71.26x
Uny Lelant 5 531.91x
Gunwalloe 4 4444.44x
Monk Bretton 4 259.74x
Redruth 4 81.63x
Camberwell 3 3.07x
Tewkesbury 3 111.94x
Westbury On Trym 3 29.47x
Aston 2 1.88x
Basingstoke 2 55.40x
Falmouth 2 32.57x
Gloucester St Catherine 2 235.29x
Houghton Le Spring 2 63.49x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 8.14x
Truro St Mary 2 136.99x
Bodmin 1 34.84x
Hampstead London 1 4.19x
Paul 1 31.75x
Portland 1 18.52x
Royal Navy 1 6.41x
Skelton In Guisbrough 1 24.33x
South Hamlet 1 53.76x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 15.08x
St Clement 1 55.25x
Stoke Damerel 1 4.48x
Wandsworth 1 6.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 14
Jane 7
Eliza 5
Ellen 4
Fanny 3
Ann 2
Honor 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Dorothy 1
Elizebeth 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Louis 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Nanny 1
Rachel 1
Ruth 1
Sally 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
James 10
William 10
Charles 5
Richard 4
Thomas 3
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Graham 1
Harry 1
Johnny 1
Justinian 1
Nicholas 1
Thos. 1
Thos.H. 1
Thos.Henry 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Kevern surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kevern surname in 1881?

In 1881, 155 people were recorded with the Kevern surname. That placed it at #15,174 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kevern surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016. That gives Kevern a modern rank of #16,054.

What does the Kevern surname mean?

A surname derived from an English place name meaning "dwelling by the creek".

What does the Kevern map show?

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