NameCensus.

UK surname

Kilsby

A locational surname originating from a place called Kilsby in England.

In the 1881 census there were 306 people recorded with the Kilsby surname, ranking it #9,586 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 471, ranked #10,456, down from #9,586 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wollaston and Kettering. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering, West Devon and Blaby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kilsby is 536 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.9%.

1881 census count

306

Ranked #9,586

Modern count

471

2016, ranked #10,456

Peak year

1911

536 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kilsby had 306 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,586 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 471 in 2016, ranked #10,456.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 536 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kilsby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kilsby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kilsby 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 211 #9,997
1861 historical 168 #13,895
1881 historical 306 #9,586
1891 historical 390 #9,058
1901 historical 449 #8,717
1911 historical 536 #7,432
1997 modern 478 #9,627
1998 modern 495 #9,678
1999 modern 505 #9,587
2000 modern 499 #9,653
2001 modern 490 #9,619
2002 modern 498 #9,664
2003 modern 486 #9,688
2004 modern 501 #9,511
2005 modern 496 #9,499
2006 modern 499 #9,500
2007 modern 493 #9,662
2008 modern 487 #9,840
2009 modern 486 #10,069
2010 modern 496 #10,120
2011 modern 487 #10,155
2012 modern 475 #10,232
2013 modern 490 #10,176
2014 modern 486 #10,309
2015 modern 476 #10,379
2016 modern 471 #10,456

Geography

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Where Kilsbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wollaston, Kettering and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kettering, West Devon, Blaby, Wellingborough and Daventry. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Wollaston Northamptonshire
3 Kettering Northamptonshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 011 Kettering
2 West Devon 001 West Devon
3 Blaby 011 Blaby
4 Wellingborough 010 Wellingborough
5 Daventry 007 Daventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kilsby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kilsby

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Kilsby is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kilsby is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kilsby falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kilsby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kilsby

The surname Kilsby originated in England, specifically in the county of Northamptonshire. It is believed to have derived from the place name "Kilsby," which is a village located in that region. The name Kilsby itself is thought to come from the Old English words "cylle" or "cyll," meaning a spring or stream, and "by," meaning a farmstead or settlement.

According to historical records, the earliest known mention of the Kilsby surname dates back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented instances is found in the Assize Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1268, which mentions a Thomas de Killesby.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not directly reference the surname Kilsby. However, it does mention the village of Kilsby, which was recorded under the name "Culvesbi" at that time.

One notable historical figure bearing the Kilsby surname was Sir Thomas Kilsby (c. 1475-1536), who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in the early 16th century during the reign of Henry VIII.

Another individual of note was John Kilsby (c. 1560-1634), an English clergyman who served as the vicar of Raunds, Northamptonshire, in the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, Robert Kilsby (1722-1793) was a respected architect and builder who worked on various projects in London, including the construction of Somerset House.

During the 19th century, William Kilsby (1819-1901) was a prominent engineer and inventor, known for his contributions to railway technology and his patented improvements to locomotive engines.

In more recent times, Clive Kilsby (1936-2022) was a renowned British entomologist and lepidopterist, recognized for his work on butterfly and moth species found in the United Kingdom.

Throughout its history, the Kilsby surname has also been associated with various place names and locations, such as Kilsby Village, Kilsby Lane, and Kilsby Wood, all located in Northamptonshire, England. These place names further reinforce the surname's connection to its geographical origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kilsby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kilsby 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. Northamptonshire leads with 131 Kilsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.66x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 131 46.66x
Middlesex 55 1.84x
Surrey 35 2.41x
Essex 18 3.06x
Staffordshire 18 1.79x
Bedfordshire 12 7.76x
Leicestershire 7 2.12x
Cambridgeshire 6 3.17x
Derbyshire 6 1.28x
Buckinghamshire 4 2.22x
Denbighshire 4 3.55x
Warwickshire 3 0.40x
Cheshire 2 0.30x
Gloucestershire 2 0.34x
Devon 1 0.16x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Worcestershire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kettering in Northamptonshire leads with 26 Kilsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 228.87x.

Place Total Index
Kettering 26 228.87x
Weedon Beck 23 1144.28x
Wollaston 14 909.09x
Battersea 13 11.84x
West Ham 11 8.46x
Daventry 10 251.89x
Rothwell 10 354.61x
West Bromwich 10 17.34x
Poplar London 9 15.98x
Higham Ferrers 8 522.88x
Lambeth 8 3.07x
Lichfield St Chad 8 352.42x
St George Hanover Square 8 15.21x
Broughton 7 777.78x
Edmonton 7 29.11x
Kensington London 7 4.22x
Little Bowden 6 612.24x
Rosliston 6 1276.60x
Walthamstow 6 28.29x
East Bedfont 5 337.84x
Great Houghton 5 1470.59x
March 5 78.99x
Barnes 4 65.04x
Bedford St Cuthbert 4 291.97x
Bedford St John 4 1739.13x
Fenny Stratford 4 233.92x
Gresford 4 373.83x
Hinckley 4 50.96x
Southwark Christchurch 4 28.59x
Chiswick 3 18.39x
Great Doddington 3 491.80x
Northampton Priory St 3 17.80x
Rushden 3 79.79x
South Mimms 3 73.35x
St Pancras London 3 1.25x
West Haddon 3 329.67x
Weston Favell 3 535.71x
Bedford St Peter 2 49.88x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 10.25x
Camberwell 2 1.05x
Clapham 2 5.36x
Islington London 2 0.69x
Monks Coppenhall 2 8.05x
Northampton St Giles 2 18.71x
Northampton St Sepulchre 2 14.01x
Paddington London 2 1.82x
Barking 1 5.80x
Bedford St Paul 1 9.43x
Bilton 1 57.80x
Croydon 1 1.24x
Desford 1 108.70x
Exeter St David 1 18.83x
Hammersmith London 1 1.36x
Heston 1 10.09x
Holcot 1 263.16x
Irthlingborough 1 36.36x
Kings Norton 1 2.86x
Leamington Priors 1 5.40x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.24x
Lutterworth 1 49.51x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.57x
Roade 1 135.14x
Shillington 1 43.86x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 7.74x
St Giles In Fields London 1 6.83x
Stratford On Avon 1 23.98x
Wandsworth 1 3.48x
Westminster St Margaret 1 6.94x
Wimblington 1 90.09x
Windle 1 5.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 13
Annie 8
Eliza 6
Emily 6
Emma 5
Margaret 5
Susan 5
Alice 4
Clara 4
Ellen 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Amy 3
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Hannah 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Isabella 2
Louisa 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
Rosena 2
Anna 1
Bessie 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.J. 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Hairrett 1
Henriette 1
Kissery 1
Lavinia 1
Lily 1
Lydia 1
Margeret 1
Marriett 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
May 1
Penelope 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
George 18
John 13
Thomas 11
James 8
Edward 6
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Henry 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Joseph 3
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Ambrose 1
Charley 1
Crissy 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Johnathan 1
Johnson 1
Lewis 1
Thos. 1
Wykes 1

FAQ

Kilsby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kilsby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 306 people were recorded with the Kilsby surname. That placed it at #9,586 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kilsby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 471 in 2016. That gives Kilsby a modern rank of #10,456.

What does the Kilsby surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place called Kilsby in England.

What does the Kilsby map show?

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