UK surname
An English surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or a nickname for a sensitive person.
In the 1881 census there were 65 people recorded with the Kile surname, ranking it #24,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #24,420 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wigston, Magna, Rowley Regis and Pluckley with Pevington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kile is 110 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.7%.
1881 census count
65
Ranked #24,420
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1861
110 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kile surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kile surname density by area, 1861 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 | 54 | #23,577 |
| 1861 | historical | 110 | #19,562 |
| 1881 | historical | 65 | #24,420 |
| 1891 | historical | 56 | #29,638 |
| 1901 | historical | 26 | #31,152 |
| 1911 | historical | 14 | #32,045 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wigston, Magna, Rowley Regis, Pluckley with Pevington, Hurst and Eastleach Turville. 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 | Wigston, Magna | Leicestershire |
| 2 | Rowley Regis | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Pluckley with Pevington | Kent |
| 4 | Hurst | Berkshire |
| 5 | Eastleach Turville | Gloucestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kile 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 Kile, 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 Kile surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kile 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, Kile 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 Kile is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kile, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname KILE is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from an Old English word meaning "kiln" or "furnace." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have been involved in occupations related to pottery or metalworking, where kilns were essential tools.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the KILE surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the 13th century, where a certain Robert le Kile is mentioned. This indicates that the name had already become established as a hereditary surname by this time.
In the 14th century, the KILE surname appears in various records from regions such as Oxfordshire and Berkshire, with spellings like "Kile," "Kyle," and "Kylle." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.
The KILE surname may also have been influenced by the Old Norse word "kili," meaning "kiln" or "furnace," as a result of the Norse invasions and settlements in parts of England during the 8th to 11th centuries.
One notable figure bearing the KILE surname was Sir John Kile, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire who lived in the 15th century. He is recorded as having donated funds for the construction of a chapel in the town of Cirencester.
Another historical figure was William Kile, a member of the English gentry from Oxfordshire, who lived during the 16th century. He is mentioned in the records of the Court of Wards and Liveries, which oversaw the estates of minors and widows.
In the 17th century, the KILE surname can be found in various parish records from counties like Norfolk and Suffolk, suggesting that the name had spread across different regions of England.
During the 18th century, a notable bearer of the KILE surname was Joseph Kile, a prominent clockmaker from London who is credited with introducing several innovations in clock design and manufacturing.
Another individual of note was Robert Kile, a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and fought alongside the British forces against the American colonists in the late 18th century.
As the centuries progressed, the KILE surname continued to be represented across various parts of England, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields, including agriculture, trade, and commerce.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kile 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. Lancashire leads with 16 Kiles recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 16 | 2.16x |
| Wiltshire | 10 | 18.11x |
| Berkshire | 8 | 17.07x |
| Lanarkshire | 8 | 3.96x |
| Derbyshire | 6 | 6.14x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.65x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.48x |
| Devon | 2 | 1.54x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.84x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.94x |
| Oxfordshire | 2 | 5.19x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 13.44x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Bolton in Lancashire leads with 11 Kiles recorded in 1881 and an index of 115.55x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Little Bolton | 11 | 115.55x |
| Stockton | 10 | 20000.00x |
| Hurst | 8 | 1311.48x |
| Barony | 7 | 13.70x |
| Beighton | 6 | 1363.64x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 5 | 30.88x |
| Leeds | 3 | 8.59x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 2 | 33.39x |
| Bensington | 1 | 400.00x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 5.32x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 6.78x |
| Devonport | 1 | 67.11x |
| Govan | 1 | 2.00x |
| Hatherleigh | 1 | 312.50x |
| Margate St John Baptist | 1 | 25.64x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 7.52x |
| Oxford St Clement | 1 | 103.09x |
| Preston Next Faversham | 1 | 200.00x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 15.72x |
| Sherburn | 1 | 196.08x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kile 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 Kile 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 Kile households.
FAQ
In 1881, 65 people were recorded with the Kile surname. That placed it at #24,420 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Kile a modern rank of #37,829.
An English surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or a nickname for a sensitive person.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kile 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.