UK surname
Of Irish/Gaelic origin, referring to a descendant or son of Kil.
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Kilson surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Greenwich and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kilson is 327 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 95.7%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1891
327 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kilson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kilson 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 | 88 | #18,569 |
| 1861 | historical | 259 | #9,561 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 327 | #10,379 |
| 1901 | historical | 53 | #28,271 |
| 1911 | historical | 89 | #23,922 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Greenwich, St Leonard Shoreditch, Kirkheaton and St Marylebone. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Kirkheaton | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kilson 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 Kilson, 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 Kilson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kilson 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, Kilson 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 Kilson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kilson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kilson originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cill" meaning a kiln or furnace, and "tun" meaning a town or settlement. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a kiln or a potter's workshop.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kilson can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cilletun" in reference to a settlement in Wiltshire. Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form, Kilson, reflecting the changes in pronunciation and spelling conventions.
In the 13th century, records show a William Kilson residing in the village of Kilnhurst, located in South Yorkshire. This place name is likely derived from the same origins as the surname, further reinforcing its connection to kilns or pottery-making settlements.
Notable individuals with the surname Kilson include John Kilson (1572-1634), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious treatises during the Puritan era. Another prominent figure was Margaret Kilson (1762-1838), a renowned potter and ceramicist from Staffordshire, known for her intricate earthenware designs.
In the 19th century, Thomas Kilson (1815-1897) was a successful industrialist and entrepreneur who established a textile manufacturing company in Manchester, contributing to the city's economic growth during the Industrial Revolution.
Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America was that of James Kilson (1688-1756), a settler from Yorkshire who arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 18th century.
Another notable figure was Elizabeth Kilson (1876-1952), an American activist and advocate for women's suffrage, who played a vital role in the ratification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote in the United States.
While the surname Kilson may not be among the most common today, its rich history and origins can be traced back to medieval England, where it was closely linked to the pottery and kiln industry, as well as the settlements that grew around these trades.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kilson 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. Middlesex leads with 12 Kilsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.67x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 12 | 2.67x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 2.47x |
| Staffordshire | 10 | 6.60x |
| Monmouthshire | 3 | 9.25x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.37x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.38x |
| Sussex | 2 | 2.64x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.28x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.69x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 2.52x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bilston in Staffordshire leads with 10 Kilsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 340.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bilston | 10 | 340.14x |
| Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe | 7 | 338.16x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 11.07x |
| Aberystruth | 3 | 104.90x |
| Shadwell London | 3 | 238.10x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 12.52x |
| Chichester St Martin | 2 | 5000.00x |
| Esher | 2 | 645.16x |
| Leeds | 2 | 7.97x |
| Manchester | 2 | 8.35x |
| Bradford On Avon | 1 | 78.74x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 9.44x |
| Doncaster | 1 | 30.77x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 9.35x |
| Old Monkland | 1 | 17.36x |
| Southwark St John | 1 | 72.99x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 12.64x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 15.60x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kilson 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 Kilson 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 Kilson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Dock Labourer | 2 |
| Tin Plate Worker | 2 |
| Brass Worker Bedsteads | 1 |
| Brewer | 1 |
| Coalminer | 1 |
| Engine Fitter At Works | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Flax Spinner | 1 |
| Frying Pan Handle Turner | 1 |
| Genl Lab | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Journeyman Tailor | 1 |
| Ladysmaid | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Masons Labourer | 1 |
| Masons Wife | 1 |
| Pianoforte Maker | 1 |
| Pianoforte Maker Wife | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Waiter | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
| Winder | 1 |
| Woollen Cloth Worker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Kilson surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Kilson a modern rank of #38,825.
Of Irish/Gaelic origin, referring to a descendant or son of Kil.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kilson 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.