NameCensus.

UK surname

Kim

A common Korean surname derived from the Chinese word "jin" meaning "gold".

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Kim surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,666, ranked #3,745, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kim is 1,666 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18411.1%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

1,666

2016, ranked #3,745

Peak year

2016

1,666 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kim had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,666 in 2016, ranked #3,745.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 49 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kim surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kim surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kim 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 49 #24,448
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 31 #30,616
1997 modern 257 #14,989
1998 modern 303 #13,809
1999 modern 302 #13,895
2000 modern 304 #13,791
2001 modern 301 #13,700
2002 modern 380 #11,887
2003 modern 566 #8,652
2004 modern 644 #7,893
2005 modern 738 #7,050
2006 modern 781 #6,759
2007 modern 922 #5,981
2008 modern 946 #5,901
2009 modern 1,001 #5,762
2010 modern 1,202 #5,037
2011 modern 1,188 #5,026
2012 modern 1,361 #4,402
2013 modern 1,396 #4,390
2014 modern 1,497 #4,183
2015 modern 1,558 #3,992
2016 modern 1,666 #3,745

Geography

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Where Kims are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Thames. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Thames 012 Kingston upon Thames
2 Kingston upon Thames 007 Kingston upon Thames
3 Kingston upon Thames 008 Kingston upon Thames
4 Kingston upon Thames 006 Kingston upon Thames
5 Kingston upon Thames 015 Kingston upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kim

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kim

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Kim surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kim 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Kim is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Kim is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kim 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 Kim 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
Unknown

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

Meaning and origin of Kim

The surname "KIM" is of Korean origin and has a long history dating back to the 7th century AD during the Silla Kingdom on the Korean peninsula. It is derived from the Old Korean word "gim" or "kim", meaning "gold" or "iron".

In ancient times, the name was often associated with nobility or high social status, as possessions of gold and iron were symbols of wealth and power. The earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in the Samguk Sagi, a historical record of the Three Kingdoms period in Korea, which mentions individuals with the surname Kim.

During the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 AD), the Kim clan became one of the most prominent and influential families in Korea. Many members of the Kim family held high positions in the royal court and made significant contributions to the development of Korean culture and society.

One notable figure from this period was Kim Bu-sik (1075-1151 AD), a renowned historian and scholar who authored the Samguk Sagi, a comprehensive history of the Three Kingdoms period. Another prominent individual was Kim Gongyang (1516-1600 AD), a celebrated Confucian scholar and philosopher during the Joseon Dynasty.

In the 19th century, the Kim family played a crucial role in the Donghak Peasant Revolution, a influential peasant uprising against the ruling Joseon Dynasty. One of the leaders of the revolution was Kim Inhu (1826-1906), a Donghak leader and religious reformer.

During the 20th century, several individuals with the surname Kim made significant contributions to Korean history and culture. Kim Gu (1876-1949) was a prominent independence activist and the final President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea during the Japanese occupation. Kim Dae-jung (1924-2009), a former President of South Korea, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his efforts to promote democracy and human rights in South Korea.

Throughout its long history, the surname Kim has been closely associated with Korea's cultural, political, and intellectual heritage, reflecting the enduring influence and significance of this ancient family name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kim families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kim 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. Kirkcudbrightshire leads with 17 Kims recorded in 1881 and an index of 364.81x.

County Total Index
Kirkcudbrightshire 17 364.81x
Midlothian 5 11.60x
Lancashire 4 1.05x
Berkshire 1 4.14x
Devon 1 1.49x
Dumfriesshire 1 14.06x
Kent 1 0.91x
Lanarkshire 1 0.96x
Lincolnshire 1 1.94x
Northumberland 1 2.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkpatrick Durham in Kirkcudbrightshire leads with 9 Kims recorded in 1881 and an index of 6428.57x.

Place Total Index
Kirkpatrick Durham 9 6428.57x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 28.84x
Troqueer 4 655.74x
Liverpool 3 12.94x
Terregles 2 4000.00x
Urr 2 327.87x
Barony 1 3.80x
Benwell 1 192.31x
Dumfries 1 142.86x
Greenwich 1 19.53x
Lidford 1 333.33x
Thornton In Fylde 1 120.48x
Wainfleet St Mary 1 1250.00x
Warfield 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Rachel 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 1
Frederick 1
George 1
James 1
John 1

Top occupations

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 Kim households.

FAQ

Kim surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kim surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Kim surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,666 in 2016. That gives Kim a modern rank of #3,745.

What does the Kim surname mean?

A common Korean surname derived from the Chinese word "jin" meaning "gold".

What does the Kim map show?

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