NameCensus.

UK surname

Kilner

An English surname derived from the medieval occupation of kiln worker or lime burner.

In the 1881 census there were 1,243 people recorded with the Kilner surname, ranking it #3,267 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,355, ranked #4,448, down from #3,267 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Kirkheaton and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kilner is 1,585 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.0%.

1881 census count

1,243

Ranked #3,267

Modern count

1,355

2016, ranked #4,448

Peak year

1911

1,585 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kilner had 1,243 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,267 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,355 in 2016, ranked #4,448.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,585 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Kilner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kilner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kilner 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 803 #3,334
1861 historical 710 #3,820
1881 historical 1,243 #3,267
1891 historical 1,309 #3,317
1901 historical 1,455 #3,502
1911 historical 1,585 #3,064
1997 modern 1,431 #4,068
1998 modern 1,457 #4,154
1999 modern 1,455 #4,179
2000 modern 1,450 #4,179
2001 modern 1,432 #4,142
2002 modern 1,443 #4,195
2003 modern 1,416 #4,180
2004 modern 1,386 #4,261
2005 modern 1,368 #4,270
2006 modern 1,365 #4,283
2007 modern 1,350 #4,354
2008 modern 1,346 #4,387
2009 modern 1,389 #4,361
2010 modern 1,441 #4,309
2011 modern 1,405 #4,348
2012 modern 1,364 #4,394
2013 modern 1,388 #4,406
2014 modern 1,371 #4,470
2015 modern 1,364 #4,438
2016 modern 1,355 #4,448

Geography

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Where Kilners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Kirkheaton, Eccles, Penistone (Denby), Kirkburton (Cumberworth Half) and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley and Kirklees. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Kirkheaton Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Penistone (Denby), Kirkburton (Cumberworth Half) Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 021 Barnsley
2 Barnsley 014 Barnsley
3 Barnsley 013 Barnsley
4 Kirklees 057 Kirklees
5 Barnsley 010 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kilner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kilner

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Kilner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kilner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kilner is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kilner is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kilner falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kilner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kilner

The surname Kilner has its origins in England, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English word "cylene," which means a kiln or an oven, and the suffix "-er," indicating an occupation or a person associated with a particular trade or activity.

This surname likely originated as a descriptive name for individuals who worked with kilns, such as potters, brick makers, or lime burners. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th century onwards, with spellings like Kylner, Kilner, and Kylnere.

In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no direct mentions of the surname Kilner. However, the book does contain references to individuals with occupational names related to kilns or ovens, indicating the existence of such professions during that time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Kilner surname was John Kilner, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327. Another early mention is found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, from 1379, where a Thomas Kilner is listed.

The surname Kilner has been associated with various locations in England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire, where the name seems to have originated and gained prominence.

Notable individuals with the surname Kilner throughout history include:

1. John Kilner (1758-1838), an English potter and entrepreneur from Wakefield, Yorkshire, who founded the Kilner Brothers glassworks and is credited with patenting the iconic Kilner jar in 1842.

2. Thomas Kilner (1776-1834), an English mathematician and clergyman from Yorkshire, known for his work on the theory of algebraic equations.

3. William Kilner (1846-1924), a British politician and industrialist from Yorkshire, who served as a Member of Parliament and was involved in the glass and pottery industries.

4. Dorothy Kilner (1755-1832), an English writer and educator from Yorkshire, known for her literary works and her contributions to the education of women.

5. William Kilner (1690-1765), an English clergyman and theologian from Derbyshire, who published several religious works and sermons during his lifetime.

While the Kilner surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration, with notable bearers of the name found in various countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kilner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kilner 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. Yorkshire leads with 734 Kilners recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.06x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 734 6.06x
Lancashire 201 1.39x
Middlesex 84 0.69x
Sussex 61 2.96x
Surrey 49 0.82x
Westmorland 14 5.22x
Derbyshire 12 0.63x
Channel Islands 10 2.76x
Leicestershire 10 0.74x
Hampshire 9 0.36x
Kent 8 0.19x
Hertfordshire 7 0.83x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.43x
Monmouthshire 6 0.68x
Roxburghshire 6 2.71x
Cheshire 5 0.19x
Lanarkshire 5 0.13x
Warwickshire 5 0.16x
Glamorgan 4 0.19x
Suffolk 4 0.27x
Durham 3 0.08x
Gloucestershire 3 0.13x
Devon 1 0.04x
Essex 1 0.04x
Flintshire 1 0.30x
Merionethshire 1 0.45x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lepton in Yorkshire leads with 48 Kilners recorded in 1881 and an index of 379.75x.

Place Total Index
Lepton 48 379.75x
Cumberworth 43 698.05x
Huddersfield 40 22.69x
Kirkheaton 39 198.68x
Hoyland Swaine 35 1114.65x
Preston 34 8.77x
Dalton In Huddersfield 29 106.97x
Barton Upon Irwell 28 25.66x
Sheffield 27 7.01x
Shelley 27 381.36x
Barnsley 24 19.23x
Skelmanthorpe 24 183.77x
Ecclesall Bierlow 20 8.12x
Wakefield 20 21.53x
Brightside Bierlow 19 8.00x
Dodworth 19 151.15x
Brighton 18 4.33x
Denby 17 260.34x
East Grinstead 17 58.32x
Thornhill 17 48.15x
Horton In Bradford 16 8.47x
Lockwood 16 36.75x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 15 34.13x
Blackburn 15 3.89x
Mirfield 14 21.07x
Salford 14 3.28x
St Pancras London 14 1.42x
Slinfold 13 402.48x
Worsbrough 12 33.84x
Oldham 11 2.35x
Wortley In Wortley 11 231.09x
Batley 10 8.69x
Bradford 10 3.41x
Hornsey 10 6.48x
Hulme 10 3.31x
Kearsley 10 32.80x
Kensington London 10 1.47x
St Helier 10 8.49x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 10 17.79x
Edmonton 9 9.15x
Holdenhurst 9 13.71x
Darton 8 64.52x
Halliwell 8 15.17x
Leicester St Margaret 8 2.42x
Almondbury 7 11.96x
Croydon 7 2.12x
Hunslet 7 3.71x
Manchester 7 1.07x
Nutfield 7 155.56x
Patterdale 7 235.69x
Pendlebury 7 22.88x
Poplar London 7 3.04x
Snenton 7 10.82x
Watford 7 10.72x
York St Cuthbert 7 63.18x
Abergavenny 6 18.15x
Armley 6 11.24x
Carlton In Barnsley 6 132.16x
Conisbrough 6 52.86x
Crigglestone 6 51.46x
Dronfield 6 24.49x
Golcar 6 18.75x
Hawick 6 12.12x
Islington London 6 0.51x
Kendal 6 12.21x
Kirkburton 6 42.05x
Longwood 6 30.75x
Marsden In Almondbury 6 54.50x
Moss Side 6 7.87x
Westminster St James 6 4.78x
Whitechapel London 6 4.98x
Burnley 5 4.10x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 2.17x
Droylsden 5 10.58x
Ecclesfield 5 5.63x
Hepworth 5 102.25x
Honley 5 23.61x
Kingston On Thames 5 3.50x
Pendleton In Salford 5 2.90x
Soothill 5 11.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 80
Sarah 56
Elizabeth 35
Ann 33
Eliza 30
Emily 28
Alice 27
Annie 25
Hannah 23
Jane 22
Harriet 18
Emma 16
Margaret 16
Ellen 13
Agnes 12
Clara 11
Florence 10
Ada 9
Martha 9
Frances 7
Amy 6
Edith 6
Louisa 6
Esther 5
Lucy 5
Rose 5
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Harriett 4
Isabella 4
Lydia 4
Minnie 4
Selina 4
Susan 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Elizth. 3
Fanny 3
Gertrude 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Nancy 3
Emmeline 2
Eva 2
Lilian 2
Lilly 2
Malinda 2
Polly 2
Rebecca 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 69
William 52
George 43
James 38
Thomas 34
Arthur 19
Harry 19
Charles 18
Henry 18
Edward 16
Joseph 12
Albert 11
Alfred 11
Fred 11
Joe 10
Joshua 10
Walter 9
Robert 8
Samuel 8
Ernest 7
Tom 7
Ben 6
Frederick 6
Geo. 6
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Richard 4
Thos. 4
Willie 4
Wm. 4
Allen 3
Benjamin 3
Chas. 3
Jesse 3
Percy 3
Barron 2
Caleb 2
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Jno. 2
Joah 2
Lewis 2
Mary 2
Noah 2
Philip 2
Robinson 2
Sam 2
Sam. 2
Wilson 2

FAQ

Kilner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kilner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,243 people were recorded with the Kilner surname. That placed it at #3,267 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kilner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,355 in 2016. That gives Kilner a modern rank of #4,448.

What does the Kilner surname mean?

An English surname derived from the medieval occupation of kiln worker or lime burner.

What does the Kilner map show?

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