UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name in Ayrshire, Scotland.
In the 1881 census there were 86 people recorded with the Kidston surname, ranking it #21,449 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #21,449 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Glasgow and Teignmouth, East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kidston is 123 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.3%.
1881 census count
86
Ranked #21,449
Modern count
84
2016, ranked #32,726
Peak year
1901
123 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kidston surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kidston surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 80 | #19,558 |
| 1861 | historical | 78 | #23,836 |
| 1881 | historical | 86 | #21,449 |
| 1891 | historical | 89 | #25,542 |
| 1901 | historical | 123 | #20,248 |
| 1911 | historical | 49 | #27,894 |
| 1997 | modern | 85 | #28,988 |
| 1998 | modern | 88 | #29,131 |
| 1999 | modern | 88 | #29,287 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 80 | #29,945 |
| 2002 | modern | 82 | #30,181 |
| 2003 | modern | 83 | #30,088 |
| 2004 | modern | 77 | #31,024 |
| 2005 | modern | 70 | #31,912 |
| 2006 | modern | 73 | #31,954 |
| 2007 | modern | 76 | #31,966 |
| 2008 | modern | 85 | #31,247 |
| 2009 | modern | 79 | #32,372 |
| 2010 | modern | 87 | #31,990 |
| 2011 | modern | 89 | #31,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 85 | #32,395 |
| 2013 | modern | 85 | #32,658 |
| 2014 | modern | 86 | #32,663 |
| 2015 | modern | 87 | #32,514 |
| 2016 | modern | 84 | #32,726 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Glasgow, Teignmouth, East, Cambuslang and Stirling. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 2 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 3 | Teignmouth, East | Devon |
| 4 | Cambuslang | Lanark |
| 5 | Stirling | Stirling |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kidston surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kidston, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Kidston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kidston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Kidston is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kidston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kidston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kidston originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the place name Kidstoune, which was an old spelling of the village of Kidsmuir located in the historical county of Berwickshire, now part of the Scottish Borders region. The name likely evolved from the Old English words "cyddes" meaning "famous" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document that recorded the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The entry "Roger de Kidistoun" is listed, indicating the presence of the Kidston family in the area during that time.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named William Kidston (c. 1515-1580) was a prominent merchant and burgess of Edinburgh, Scotland. He was involved in trade and served as a magistrate in the city.
Another significant individual was Robert Kidston (1852-1924), a renowned Scottish paleobotanist and fossil plant expert. He made significant contributions to the study of plant fossils from the Carboniferous period and authored several important works on the subject.
The Kidston surname also has connections to the Kidston family of Glenville, a Scottish landed gentry family with roots in Renfrewshire. One notable member was Richard Kidston (1711-1793), who served as a Member of Parliament for the Linlithgow Burghs constituency in the British House of Commons.
In the literary realm, the Scottish poet and writer William Kidston (1849-1919) was a prominent figure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He wrote several collections of poetry and prose works, including "Voices of the Morning" and "The Stirrup Cup."
While the name was primarily concentrated in Scotland, it also spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond through migration and diaspora. Notable individuals bearing the Kidston surname can be found in various fields, including academia, politics, and the arts, throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kidston surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 26 Kidstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 26 | 9.59x |
| Stirlingshire | 19 | 61.43x |
| Renfrewshire | 8 | 12.31x |
| Dumfriesshire | 6 | 32.38x |
| Dunbartonshire | 6 | 26.62x |
| Fife | 6 | 12.08x |
| Devon | 5 | 2.86x |
| Essex | 3 | 1.81x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.75x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 3.46x |
| Perthshire | 2 | 5.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 19 Kidstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.68x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barony | 19 | 27.68x |
| Falkirk | 10 | 138.12x |
| Kilmalcolm | 8 | 1025.64x |
| Moffat | 6 | 705.88x |
| Row | 6 | 205.48x |
| St Andrews | 6 | 265.49x |
| Glasgow | 5 | 10.38x |
| Stirling | 5 | 128.21x |
| West Teignmouth | 5 | 373.13x |
| Alva | 4 | 270.27x |
| Walthamstow | 3 | 50.34x |
| Bramshott | 2 | 476.19x |
| Dunblane | 2 | 222.22x |
| Govan | 2 | 2.98x |
| Northaw | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Northwood | 1 | 40.82x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kidston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kidston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kidston households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Banker | 1 |
| Chimney Sweep | 1 |
| Curate Of Bramshott Hants | 1 |
| Merchant and Ship Owner | 1 |
| Ship Fixture Manufacturer (Rigger) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 86 people were recorded with the Kidston surname. That placed it at #21,449 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Kidston a modern rank of #32,726.
A locational surname derived from a place name in Ayrshire, Scotland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kidston bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.