NameCensus.

UK surname

Kibble

A surname possibly derived from a Northern English word for a small container or basket.

In the 1881 census there were 899 people recorded with the Kibble surname, ranking it #4,242 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,318, ranked #4,552, down from #4,242 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Willesden and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area and Braintree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kibble is 1,377 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.6%.

1881 census count

899

Ranked #4,242

Modern count

1,318

2016, ranked #4,552

Peak year

2002

1,377 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kibble had 899 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,242 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,318 in 2016, ranked #4,552.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,223 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kibble surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kibble surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kibble 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 555 #4,565
1861 historical 347 #7,357
1881 historical 899 #4,242
1891 historical 848 #4,819
1901 historical 1,087 #4,446
1911 historical 1,223 #3,868
1997 modern 1,303 #4,393
1998 modern 1,366 #4,361
1999 modern 1,369 #4,392
2000 modern 1,376 #4,356
2001 modern 1,343 #4,357
2002 modern 1,377 #4,350
2003 modern 1,339 #4,375
2004 modern 1,334 #4,399
2005 modern 1,315 #4,398
2006 modern 1,319 #4,397
2007 modern 1,324 #4,413
2008 modern 1,327 #4,432
2009 modern 1,361 #4,422
2010 modern 1,357 #4,523
2011 modern 1,330 #4,545
2012 modern 1,337 #4,464
2013 modern 1,352 #4,494
2014 modern 1,342 #4,542
2015 modern 1,334 #4,526
2016 modern 1,318 #4,552

Geography

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Where Kibbles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Willesden, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area and Braintree. 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
2 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
2 Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area Scottish Borders
3 Forest of Dean 003 Forest of Dean
4 Braintree 004 Braintree
5 Forest of Dean 005 Forest of Dean

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kibble

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kibble

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

Kibble is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Kibble

The surname Kibble originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word 'cybbel', meaning a small bundle or bunch, possibly referring to a bundle of sticks or a small bundle of wheat. The name was likely initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who carried such bundles.

Early records of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it is listed as 'Kybbel'. It also appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379 as 'Kybyll'. These early spellings demonstrate the evolution of the name over time.

The Kibble surname has ties to several place names in England, such as Kibblesworth in County Durham and Kibworth in Leicestershire. These place names likely originated from the Old English words 'cybbel' and 'wurth', meaning a small bundle or bunch and an enclosure or farm, respectively.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was John Kibble, who was born around 1520 in Wiltshire, England. Another notable figure was William Kibble, a merchant and alderman in the City of London, who lived from 1585 to 1659.

During the 17th century, the Kibble family established themselves in various parts of England. Notable members include Robert Kibble (1599-1677), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire, and Thomas Kibble (1629-1696), a prominent clergyman and author from Warwickshire.

In the 18th century, Samuel Kibble (1720-1793) was a successful banker and philanthropist in London, known for his contributions to various charitable causes. In the 19th century, Joseph Kibble (1818-1891) was a renowned architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in the city of Birmingham.

Overall, the surname Kibble has a rich history rooted in medieval England, with ties to various regions and notable individuals over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kibble families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kibble 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. Middlesex leads with 132 Kibbles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.50x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 132 1.50x
Gloucestershire 115 6.67x
Essex 92 5.30x
Kent 69 2.30x
Surrey 67 1.56x
Staffordshire 66 2.22x
Lancashire 57 0.55x
Warwickshire 55 2.48x
Buckinghamshire 43 8.09x
Shropshire 41 5.40x
Wiltshire 25 3.22x
Berkshire 17 2.58x
Yorkshire 17 0.20x
Oxfordshire 15 2.76x
Somerset 14 0.99x
Hertfordshire 13 2.15x
Sussex 9 0.61x
Worcestershire 8 0.70x
Durham 7 0.27x
Hampshire 7 0.39x
Leicestershire 6 0.62x
Derbyshire 4 0.29x
Northumberland 4 0.31x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.34x
Suffolk 4 0.37x
Bedfordshire 3 0.66x
Northamptonshire 3 0.36x
Devon 2 0.11x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.42x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halstead in Essex leads with 72 Kibbles recorded in 1881 and an index of 355.73x.

Place Total Index
Halstead 72 355.73x
Clerkenwell London 31 14.94x
Camberwell 23 4.10x
Westbury On Severn East 23 59.02x
Crudwell 20 884.96x
Greenwich 18 12.87x
Lambeth 18 2.35x
Orpington 17 185.19x
Gnosall 16 223.46x
Coln St Aldwins 15 1127.82x
Shifnal 15 72.78x
Southwark St George Martyr 15 8.48x
Birmingham 12 1.62x
Coln St Dennis 12 2068.97x
St Pancras London 12 1.70x
Newchurch 11 12.89x
Preston 11 3.94x
Buscot 10 892.86x
Catterall 10 543.48x
Stroud 10 29.82x
Walsall Foreign 10 6.53x
Aston 9 1.47x
Bromley London 9 4.65x
Norton Canes 9 83.26x
Whitchurch 9 412.84x
Berkswell 8 182.65x
Hastings St Mary In The 8 25.31x
Kensington London 8 1.64x
Aston Clinton 7 155.56x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 7 44.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 4.23x
St George In East London 7 8.47x
Wolverhampton 7 3.07x
Wrockwardine 7 41.92x
Compton Abdale 6 952.38x
Eastleach Turville 6 458.02x
Gloucester St Aldate 6 281.69x
North Marston 6 306.12x
Reading St Giles 6 9.27x
Warrington 6 4.85x
Wellington 6 14.06x
Whitton 6 291.26x
Willenhall 6 10.80x
Astley 5 684.93x
Berkhampstead 5 36.71x
Broad Hinton 5 303.03x
Cannock 5 9.66x
Cirencester 5 21.42x
Dawley 5 18.10x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.16x
Grandborough 5 387.60x
Holy Trinity 5 2.39x
Leckhampton 5 47.08x
Lewisham 5 3.13x
Mile End Old Town London 5 2.67x
St Anne Soho London 5 9.96x
St George Martyr London 5 28.09x
St Mary Cray 5 87.26x
Stewkley 5 123.76x
Tottenham 5 3.57x
Ventnor 5 29.19x
Waddesdon Westcott 5 301.20x
Walthamstow 5 8.01x
Wells St Andrew 5 393.70x
Witney 5 55.07x
Wivenhoe 5 72.57x
Woolwich 5 4.51x
All Hallows Less London 4 3333.33x
Bathwick 4 25.54x
Bedminster 4 3.01x
Bermondsey 4 1.53x
Clapham 4 3.64x
Copford 4 201.01x
Fladbury 4 291.97x
Hammersmith London 4 1.85x
Harnhill 4 1904.76x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.31x
St Giles Cripplegate 4 34.28x
West Bromwich 4 2.36x
Worsbrough 4 15.67x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 60
George 39
Thomas 36
John 31
Charles 28
James 22
Alfred 15
Edward 13
Henry 13
Joseph 11
Walter 10
Albert 9
Arthur 9
Ernest 9
Richard 8
Frederick 7
Robert 6
Frank 5
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Wm. 4
Frederic 3
Herbert 3
Jas. 3
Jessie 3
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Noah 2
Percy 2
Richd. 2
Alma 1
Archd. 1
C. 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Emanuel 1
Evan 1
F. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.W. 1
Fredrick 1
Hy.F. 1
Hy.J. 1
J. 1
J.R. 1
Jmes. 1
Jno. 1

FAQ

Kibble surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kibble surname in 1881?

In 1881, 899 people were recorded with the Kibble surname. That placed it at #4,242 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kibble surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,318 in 2016. That gives Kibble a modern rank of #4,552.

What does the Kibble surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from a Northern English word for a small container or basket.

What does the Kibble map show?

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