NameCensus.

UK surname

Kidwell

Derived from a place name meaning "spring or stream frequented by goats" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 170 people recorded with the Kidwell surname, ranking it #14,265 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 188, ranked #20,417, down from #14,265 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochester, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and Kingston-on-Thames. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Thames, Stoke-on-Trent and West Berkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kidwell is 223 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.6%.

1881 census count

170

Ranked #14,265

Modern count

188

2016, ranked #20,417

Peak year

1911

223 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kidwell had 170 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,265 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016, ranked #20,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 223 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Kidwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kidwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kidwell 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 99 #17,294
1861 historical 145 #15,715
1881 historical 170 #14,265
1891 historical 183 #15,918
1901 historical 218 #14,332
1911 historical 223 #13,951
1997 modern 167 #19,722
1998 modern 177 #19,523
1999 modern 182 #19,317
2000 modern 177 #19,634
2001 modern 177 #19,357
2002 modern 187 #19,083
2003 modern 186 #18,928
2004 modern 189 #18,855
2005 modern 177 #19,598
2006 modern 180 #19,526
2007 modern 186 #19,337
2008 modern 197 #18,818
2009 modern 193 #19,463
2010 modern 190 #20,087
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 189 #19,949
2013 modern 192 #20,067
2014 modern 197 #19,903
2015 modern 193 #20,056
2016 modern 188 #20,417

Geography

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Where Kidwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochester, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, Kingston-on-Thames, Pilton and Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Thames, Stoke-on-Trent, West Berkshire, Suffolk Coastal and Guildford. 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 Rochester Kent
2 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 Kingston-on-Thames Surrey
4 Pilton Devon
5 Swansea Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Thames 020 Kingston upon Thames
2 Stoke-on-Trent 013 Stoke-on-Trent
3 West Berkshire 020 West Berkshire
4 Suffolk Coastal 008 Suffolk Coastal
5 Guildford 003 Guildford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kidwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kidwell

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Kidwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Kidwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Kidwell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kidwell is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kidwell falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kidwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kidwell

The surname Kidwell has its origins in England and is believed to have originated in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "cid" meaning a young goat or kid, and "well" meaning a spring or stream. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a spring or stream where young goats or kids were found.

The earliest recorded use of the name can be traced back to the 13th century. In 1273, a William Kydewelle was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. The Hundred Rolls were a census-like survey conducted in England during the reign of King Edward I.

The name has also been recorded in various historical documents throughout the centuries. For instance, a John Kidwell was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. The Subsidy Rolls were records of taxes levied on the personal property of individuals.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Worcestershire, where a Thomas Kidwell was listed as a taxpayer in 1672. The Hearth Tax was a tax imposed on household fireplaces or stoves in England and Wales during the 17th century.

One notable individual bearing the surname Kidwell was Richard Kidwell (1655-1726), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Warden of New College, Oxford, from 1703 until his death.

Another historical figure with this name was Samuel Kidwell (1641-1704), an English Quaker minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Treatise on Baptism" and "A Testimony against the False Teachers and Deceivers of this Age."

In the 18th century, the Kidwell family had established a presence in the American colonies. One notable member was Joseph Kidwell (1735-1815), a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and a delegate to the Virginia Convention of 1788, which ratified the United States Constitution.

During the 19th century, the name appeared in various records across different parts of the United States. For example, John Kidwell (1818-1896) was a prominent businessman and landowner in Kentucky, known for his involvement in the horse breeding industry.

Another individual of note was William Kidwell (1842-1915), a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kidwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kidwell 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. Devon leads with 57 Kidwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.42x.

County Total Index
Devon 57 16.42x
Glamorgan 29 9.99x
Staffordshire 24 4.26x
Kent 18 3.16x
Lancashire 16 0.81x
Somerset 8 2.98x
Surrey 6 0.74x
Cheshire 5 1.36x
Gloucestershire 5 1.53x
Hampshire 1 0.29x
Middlesex 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 5.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swansea Town in Glamorgan leads with 28 Kidwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 117.60x.

Place Total Index
Swansea Town 28 117.60x
Barnstaple 22 403.67x
Stoke Upon Trent 20 33.50x
Rochester St Margaret 8 133.33x
Snodland 8 496.89x
Toxteth Park 8 11.94x
Liverpool 7 5.82x
Sherwill 7 3043.48x
Ilfracombe 6 168.07x
Kingston On Thames 5 25.61x
Liscard 5 75.41x
Pilton 5 434.78x
Highweek 4 322.58x
Smallthorne 4 191.39x
Bristol St James St Paul 3 27.50x
Weston Super Mare 3 44.25x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 25.16x
Fremington 2 281.69x
Lynton 2 289.86x
Abbots Leigh 1 476.19x
Battersea 1 1.63x
Braunton 1 84.75x
Bromley 1 11.53x
Burnham 1 48.78x
Cheddar 1 74.07x
Coldridge 1 384.62x
Devonport 1 25.06x
Exminster 1 80.00x
Hammersmith London 1 2.43x
Huntspill 1 90.91x
Little Torrington 1 333.33x
Marwood 1 217.39x
Old Cleeve 1 104.17x
Roath 1 7.58x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 56.50x
Royal Navy 1 5.89x
South Molton 1 52.36x
Southampton All Sts 1 17.04x
Stapleton 1 16.10x
West Derby 1 1.73x
Westbury On Trym 1 9.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 9
Samuel 8
George 6
James 6
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Arthur 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Moses 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Egbert 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
M. 1
Sidney 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1
Wm.D. 1

FAQ

Kidwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kidwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 170 people were recorded with the Kidwell surname. That placed it at #14,265 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kidwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016. That gives Kidwell a modern rank of #20,417.

What does the Kidwell surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "spring or stream frequented by goats" in Old English.

What does the Kidwell map show?

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