NameCensus.

UK surname

Kilmister

In the 1881 census there were 142 people recorded with the Kilmister surname, ranking it #16,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 282, ranked #15,406, up from #16,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Uley and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Cotswold and Hillingdon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kilmister is 322 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 98.6%.

1881 census count

142

Ranked #16,012

Modern count

282

2016, ranked #15,406

Peak year

2000

322 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kilmister had 142 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016, ranked #15,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kilmister surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kilmister surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kilmister 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 183 #11,166
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 142 #16,012
1891 historical 160 #17,555
1901 historical 196 #15,329
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 318 #13,024
1998 modern 319 #13,330
1999 modern 319 #13,420
2000 modern 322 #13,307
2001 modern 314 #13,318
2002 modern 321 #13,378
2003 modern 307 #13,614
2004 modern 310 #13,589
2005 modern 300 #13,837
2006 modern 295 #14,053
2007 modern 303 #13,965
2008 modern 298 #14,206
2009 modern 293 #14,669
2010 modern 300 #14,730
2011 modern 295 #14,758
2012 modern 289 #14,875
2013 modern 292 #15,027
2014 modern 282 #15,537
2015 modern 279 #15,527
2016 modern 282 #15,406

Geography

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Where Kilmisters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Uley, Birmingham Town: Birmingham, Brighton and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Cotswold, Hillingdon, Birmingham and Gloucester. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 Uley Gloucestershire
3 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 007 Stroud
2 Cotswold 001 Cotswold
3 Hillingdon 027 Hillingdon
4 Birmingham 025 Birmingham
5 Gloucester 015 Gloucester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kilmister

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kilmister

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kilmister is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kilmister is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kilmister falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Kilmister families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kilmister 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. Gloucestershire leads with 65 Kilmisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.93x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 65 23.93x
Wiltshire 16 13.06x
Sussex 14 6.00x
Somerset 13 5.83x
Surrey 10 1.48x
Middlesex 8 0.58x
Staffordshire 3 0.64x
Warwickshire 3 0.86x
Kent 2 0.42x
Lincolnshire 2 0.90x
Berkshire 1 0.96x
Dorset 1 1.10x
Essex 1 0.37x
Hampshire 1 0.35x
Leicestershire 1 0.65x
Worcestershire 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cirencester in Gloucestershire leads with 12 Kilmisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 326.09x.

Place Total Index
Cirencester 12 326.09x
Keymer 11 666.67x
Cheltenham 9 42.94x
Rodmarton 8 4444.44x
Acton 7 86.21x
Bedminster 7 33.41x
Churchdown 7 1296.30x
Croydon 6 16.02x
Glastonbury 6 329.67x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 19.55x
Fittleton 5 3125.00x
Swindon 5 52.63x
Duntisbourne Abbotts 4 2857.14x
Penge 4 45.20x
Birmingham 3 2.58x
Brighton 3 6.37x
Stone 3 50.17x
Broughton Gifford 2 689.66x
Charlton Kings 2 106.38x
Cherington 2 2000.00x
Deptford St Paul 2 5.49x
Hawkesbury 2 217.39x
Old Sodbury 2 588.24x
Rodborough 2 152.67x
Stapleton 2 38.84x
Uley 2 400.00x
Upton 2 1818.18x
Ashton Keynes 1 217.39x
Baunton 1 1428.57x
Brading 1 26.53x
Chitterne All Sts 1 500.00x
Clifton 1 7.28x
Dursley 1 89.29x
Gillingham 1 64.10x
Hammersmith London 1 2.93x
Henbury 1 75.19x
Hinckley 1 27.47x
Pewsey 1 111.11x
Reading St Giles 1 9.80x
Salisbury St Edmund 1 50.76x
Tetbury 1 64.94x
Theydon Garnon 1 161.29x
Westbury On Trym 1 10.87x
Worcester St Peter 1 29.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 8
George 6
Thomas 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Harry 2
Henry 2
Peter 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Colin 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
James 1
Jas.Barlow 1
Joseph 1
Matthew 1
Miles 1
Moses 1
Octavious 1
Oliff 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Simon 1
Sydney 1
Walt. 1

FAQ

Kilmister surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kilmister surname in 1881?

In 1881, 142 people were recorded with the Kilmister surname. That placed it at #16,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kilmister surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016. That gives Kilmister a modern rank of #15,406.

What does the Kilmister map show?

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