NameCensus.

UK surname

Kibby

A surname possibly derived from an English place name.

In the 1881 census there were 178 people recorded with the Kibby surname, ranking it #13,840 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 141, ranked #24,753, down from #13,840 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Cannington, Stockland Bristol, Otterhampton and Llanhilleth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, North Somerset and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kibby is 207 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.8%.

1881 census count

178

Ranked #13,840

Modern count

141

2016, ranked #24,753

Peak year

1998

207 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kibby had 178 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,840 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016, ranked #24,753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 188 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kibby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kibby surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kibby 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 126 #14,626
1861 historical 188 #12,628
1881 historical 178 #13,840
1891 historical 187 #15,679
1901 historical 169 #16,824
1911 historical 171 #16,461
1997 modern 194 #17,978
1998 modern 207 #17,749
1999 modern 195 #18,517
2000 modern 185 #19,118
2001 modern 177 #19,357
2002 modern 182 #19,411
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 173 #19,937
2005 modern 164 #20,552
2006 modern 167 #20,447
2007 modern 169 #20,562
2008 modern 175 #20,311
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 174 #21,259
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 149 #23,372
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 137 #25,226
2016 modern 141 #24,753

Geography

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Where Kibbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Cannington, Stockland Bristol, Otterhampton, Llanhilleth, Glenfield, Leicester Forest and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, North Somerset, Blaenau Gwent and Bath and North East Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Cannington, Stockland Bristol, Otterhampton Somerset
3 Llanhilleth Monmouthshire
4 Glenfield, Leicester Forest Leicestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 041 Bristol, City of
2 Bristol 050 Bristol, City of
3 North Somerset 021 North Somerset
4 Blaenau Gwent 001 Blaenau Gwent
5 Bath and North East Somerset 016 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kibby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kibby

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kibby is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kibby 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

Kibby falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kibby

The surname Kibby is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the 14th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "cib" or "cyb," which referred to a small wooden tub or basket. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who made or worked with such containers.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Court Rolls of Walsingham, Norfolk, in 1379, where a person named John Kybby was mentioned. This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and spelling during the late Middle Ages in England.

The Kibby surname appeared to be concentrated in various counties across England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire, during the medieval and early modern periods. Some variations in the spelling of the name, such as Kibbey, Kybby, and Kibbye, can be found in old records from these regions.

In the 16th century, a notable person bearing the Kibby surname was William Kibby, who was born around 1520 in Suffolk. He was a prominent merchant and landowner during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another individual of historical significance was John Kibby, born in 1632 in Norfolk. He was a Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Bruitish Monumental Antiquities" and "A Key to the Knowledge of Church-History, Ancient and Modern."

Moving into the 17th century, there was a Robert Kibby who lived in Lincolnshire. He was born in 1645 and served as a member of the local gentry, holding various positions of authority within his community.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was Samuel Kibby, born in 1702 in Suffolk. He was a prominent clockmaker and inventor, known for his innovative designs and contributions to the development of timepieces during that era.

The name Kibby has also been associated with certain place names in England, such as Kibby Cote in Oxfordshire and Kibby Close in Norfolk, further indicating the historical presence of individuals bearing this surname in different regions of the country.

While the Kibby surname may not be among the most widespread or well-known today, its origins can be traced back several centuries in English history, with records indicating its use as an occupational surname and its presence in various counties across the nation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kibby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kibby 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. Somerset leads with 34 Kibbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.30x.

County Total Index
Somerset 34 12.30x
Devon 23 6.44x
Middlesex 22 1.28x
Warwickshire 20 4.62x
Gloucestershire 17 5.05x
Leicestershire 13 6.83x
Monmouthshire 9 7.25x
Staffordshire 8 1.38x
Dorset 6 5.33x
Essex 4 1.18x
Durham 3 0.59x
Kent 3 0.51x
Surrey 3 0.36x
Derbyshire 2 0.74x
Hampshire 2 0.57x
Lancashire 2 0.10x
Oxfordshire 2 1.89x
Yorkshire 2 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.92x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 12 Kibbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.07x.

Place Total Index
Aston 12 10.07x
Llanhilleth 9 1097.56x
Glenfield 8 2162.16x
Handsworth 8 56.02x
Yeovil 8 142.60x
Bedminster 7 26.96x
Charlton Kings 7 300.43x
Keynsham 7 353.54x
Birmingham 6 4.16x
Farway 6 3529.41x
Westminster St Margaret 6 72.46x
Yarcombe 6 1463.41x
Cothelstone 5 6250.00x
Leicester St Margaret 5 10.77x
Mile End Old Town London 5 13.68x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 4 317.46x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 3 329.67x
Heworth 3 29.82x
West Ham 3 4.01x
Woolwich 3 13.86x
Wyke Regis 3 185.19x
Awliscombe 2 645.16x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.68x
Bradford 2 4.86x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 2 65.15x
Chard 2 59.70x
Chelsea London 2 3.87x
Clerkenwell London 2 4.94x
Derby St Peter 2 23.36x
Hackney London 2 2.08x
Kensington London 2 2.10x
Offwell 2 1000.00x
Ottery St Mary 2 85.47x
Solihull 2 64.31x
Southwark Christchurch 2 24.88x
West Teignmouth 2 73.26x
Bitton 1 34.13x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 8.90x
Cannington 1 121.95x
Carisbrooke 1 20.49x
Everton 1 1.54x
Exminster 1 77.52x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 1 16.23x
Kirkdale 1 2.92x
Lambeth 1 0.67x
Langport Eastover 1 250.00x
March 1 27.47x
Musbury 1 322.58x
North Leigh 1 714.29x
Oxford St Giles 1 19.76x
Sandford 1 357.14x
Southampton All Sts 1 16.56x
St Martin In Fields 1 9.73x
Taunton St James 1 24.81x
Thornbury 1 43.48x
Walcot 1 6.79x
Walthamstow 1 8.20x
Wembdon 1 121.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Emily 8
Ann 7
Elizabeth 7
Emma 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Margaret 3
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Augusta 1
Barbara 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Ela 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Josepha 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lavena 1
Lavinia 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Maria 1
Marianne 1
Minna 1
Priscilla 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 10
George 8
Samuel 7
Henry 6
James 6
Charles 4
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Ernest 2
Alfred 1
Cecil 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Kibby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kibby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 178 people were recorded with the Kibby surname. That placed it at #13,840 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kibby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016. That gives Kibby a modern rank of #24,753.

What does the Kibby surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from an English place name.

What does the Kibby map show?

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