UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English word "cylling," meaning someone who lived near a spring or stream.
In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Killing surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #27,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Winwick, Newcastle All Saints and Begelly. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Killing is 123 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.5%.
1881 census count
43
Ranked #27,575
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1861
123 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Killing surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Killing surname density by area, 1891 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 | 98 | #17,383 |
| 1861 | historical | 123 | #17,914 |
| 1881 | historical | 43 | #27,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 59 | #27,609 |
| 1911 | historical | 51 | #27,708 |
| 1997 | modern | 23 | #35,484 |
| 1998 | modern | 23 | #35,603 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 23 | #35,606 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 21 | #36,179 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 20 | #36,534 |
| 2010 | modern | 23 | #36,400 |
| 2011 | modern | 23 | #36,369 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 19 | #36,740 |
| 2015 | modern | 19 | #36,736 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Winwick, Newcastle All Saints, Begelly, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Liverpool. 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 | Winwick | Lancashire |
| 2 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 3 | Begelly | Pembrokeshire |
| 4 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Killing 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 Killing, 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 Killing surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Killing 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, Killing 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 Killing is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Killing, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Killing originates from England, with its earliest known roots dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to derive from an Old English personal name Cylli, which itself could be a shortened form of a longer name like Cyneweard or Cynebeald. The addition of the suffix -ing typically denotes "son of" or "descendant of," thus Killing could historically be interpreted as "descendant of Cylli."
Initially, the name Killing was concentrated in specific areas, including the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. One of the earliest documented mentions of the surname occurs in the Domesday Book of 1086, where variations such as Keling and Kylling appear, pointing towards a possible connection with topographical descriptions or personal attributes of the area's inhabitants.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Killing is William Killing, who appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301. His presence in this historic tax record underscores the name's early establishment in the region. The name also appears in other historical documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Richard Killeng is mentioned. This further solidifies the geographical spread and recognition of the name during medieval times.
Over centuries, several variations of the surname existed before the modern spelling was standardized. In an 1412 ecclesiastical record, a John Keling is documented, signifying another phonetic variation that occurred over time. The evolutionary nature of surnames during this period was not unusual, reflecting local dialects and transcription habits of record keepers.
A notable historical figure bearing the surname was Sir Edward Killing, born in 1563, a knight who served under Queen Elizabeth I. His contributions to the royal court highlight a period when the surname Killing was associated with significant social stature. Similarly, Anne Killing, born in 1642, is recorded in parish records, further demonstrating the name’s continued use into the Stuart period.
As the centuries progressed, the name Killing spread to other regions of England and beyond. In the military records of the 18th century, Captain Thomas Killing, born in 1721, is recognized for his service in the British navy during the Seven Years' War. His career exemplifies the surname's presence among influential societal roles during that era.
Reflecting on the broader historical context, the surname Killing consistently appears in various forms within public and legal records, painting a picture of a name that has been woven into the fabric of English history. The surname's trajectory from medieval origins to prominence in public life showcases its enduring legacy and the historical importance of its bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Killing 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. Yorkshire leads with 11 Killings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.65x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 11 | 2.65x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 11.22x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.19x |
| Wiltshire | 5 | 13.49x |
| Ayrshire | 3 | 9.56x |
| Renfrewshire | 3 | 9.23x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 6.92x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 1.48x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.40x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.80x |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 12.84x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.48x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newcastle On Tyne All Sts in Northumberland leads with 6 Killings recorded in 1881 and an index of 160.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 6 | 160.86x |
| Chippenham | 5 | 641.03x |
| Sheffield | 5 | 37.79x |
| Hook | 3 | 329.67x |
| Leeds | 3 | 12.79x |
| Mauchline | 3 | 833.33x |
| Barony | 2 | 5.83x |
| Neilston | 2 | 122.70x |
| Rickmansworth | 2 | 250.00x |
| German | 1 | 238.10x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.46x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 4.29x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 3.31x |
| Manchester | 1 | 4.47x |
| Middle Greenock | 1 | 112.36x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 30.96x |
| South Shields | 1 | 90.09x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 41.49x |
| St Luke London | 1 | 14.88x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 14.97x |
| Walcot | 1 | 27.86x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Killing 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 Killing 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 Killing households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Carpenter | 2 |
| Domestic Servant Out Of Situation | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labr | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Donkeyman | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Fireman Steam Vessel | 1 |
| Gardener (N D) | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Housemaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom Serv | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer Gas Works | 1 |
| Metal Smith | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Waitress D S | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Killing surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Killing a modern rank of #36,679.
An English surname derived from the Old English word "cylling," meaning someone who lived near a spring or stream.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Killing 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.