NameCensus.

UK surname

Kimber

An English occupational surname for one who made or repaired tubs and barrels, derived from the Old English "cymbren".

In the 1881 census there were 2,829 people recorded with the Kimber surname, ranking it #1,577 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,568, ranked #1,900, down from #1,577 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eling and South Stoneham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Cornwall and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kimber is 4,063 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.1%.

1881 census count

2,829

Ranked #1,577

Modern count

3,568

2016, ranked #1,900

Peak year

1911

4,063 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kimber had 2,829 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,577 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,568 in 2016, ranked #1,900.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,063 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kimber surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kimber surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kimber 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 1,807 #1,592
1861 historical 1,491 #1,895
1881 historical 2,829 #1,577
1891 historical 2,996 #1,570
1901 historical 3,646 #1,540
1911 historical 4,063 #1,263
1997 modern 3,685 #1,758
1998 modern 3,846 #1,753
1999 modern 3,843 #1,768
2000 modern 3,816 #1,771
2001 modern 3,726 #1,770
2002 modern 3,786 #1,791
2003 modern 3,688 #1,797
2004 modern 3,699 #1,785
2005 modern 3,569 #1,831
2006 modern 3,582 #1,823
2007 modern 3,605 #1,827
2008 modern 3,594 #1,846
2009 modern 3,642 #1,868
2010 modern 3,727 #1,865
2011 modern 3,683 #1,864
2012 modern 3,554 #1,892
2013 modern 3,600 #1,903
2014 modern 3,638 #1,895
2015 modern 3,576 #1,908
2016 modern 3,568 #1,900

Geography

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Where Kimbers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eling and South Stoneham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Cornwall, Charnwood and Winchester. 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 1
2 Eling Hampshire
3 South Stoneham Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 012 Wiltshire
2 Cornwall 033 Cornwall
3 Charnwood 011 Charnwood
4 Wiltshire 024 Wiltshire
5 Winchester 003 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kimber

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kimber

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

Kimber is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kimber falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kimber

The surname Kimber originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "cymbar," which means a small ridge or hill. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name likely resided near or on a small hill or elevated area.

The name Kimber is believed to have first appeared in the county of Dorset, located in the southwest of England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror.

During the 13th century, the name was also found in various forms, such as Kymber, Kymbare, and Kymbere, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. These variations were often influenced by the local pronunciation and the scribes' interpretations.

Notable historical figures who bore the surname Kimber include John Kimber (c. 1600-1676), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis during the English Civil War. Another significant individual was Edward Kimber (1719-1769), an English writer and historian best known for his work "The Life of Oliver Cromwell."

In the 18th century, the surname Kimber also gained recognition through the efforts of Isaac Kimber (1692-1755), an English writer and biographer who published several works, including a comprehensive history of England. Additionally, Thomas Kimber (c. 1700-1781) was an English engraver and artist known for his contributions to the publication of various literary works.

Moving into the 19th century, one notable figure was Henry Kimber (1801-1886), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Chiddingfold in Surrey. He published several theological works and contributed to various literary publications during his lifetime.

Throughout its history, the surname Kimber has been associated with various locations and place names, primarily in the counties of Dorset, Somerset, and Devon. Some examples include Kimber Farm in Beaminster, Dorset, and Kimber Hill in South Somerset, both of which likely derived their names from early bearers of the Kimber surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kimber families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kimber 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. Hampshire leads with 559 Kimbers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.81x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 559 9.81x
Middlesex 385 1.38x
Surrey 355 2.62x
Kent 250 2.63x
Berkshire 217 10.39x
Wiltshire 195 7.93x
Sussex 134 2.86x
Oxfordshire 102 5.94x
Dorset 79 4.33x
Gloucestershire 63 1.16x
Leicestershire 56 1.82x
Somerset 47 1.05x
Yorkshire 47 0.17x
Lancashire 45 0.14x
Staffordshire 44 0.47x
Warwickshire 41 0.58x
Devon 35 0.60x
Channel Islands 24 2.91x
Buckinghamshire 23 1.37x
Essex 23 0.42x
Herefordshire 13 1.14x
Worcestershire 13 0.36x
Glamorgan 12 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.32x
Derbyshire 10 0.23x
Durham 10 0.12x
Shropshire 10 0.42x
Bedfordshire 9 0.63x
Suffolk 6 0.18x
Cheshire 5 0.08x
Monmouthshire 4 0.20x
Ross-shire 4 0.52x
Norfolk 3 0.07x
Royal Navy 3 0.91x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.11x
Hertfordshire 2 0.10x
Lanarkshire 2 0.02x
Northamptonshire 2 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.23x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Northumberland 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. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 111 Kimbers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.94x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 111 9.94x
Lambeth 52 2.14x
Islington London 51 1.89x
Kensington London 49 3.17x
Camberwell 41 2.31x
Croydon 38 5.05x
Deptford St Paul 36 4.92x
Millbrook 35 24.38x
Brighton 33 3.49x
Aldershot 30 15.71x
Eling 30 51.96x
Chelsea London 28 3.34x
St Marylebone London 28 1.89x
St Pancras London 28 1.25x
Burbage 26 207.34x
Farnham 26 24.67x
Minster In Sheppey 26 16.54x
Plumstead 25 7.90x
Bermondsey 23 2.78x
South Stoneham 23 18.60x
Coombe Bissett 22 635.84x
Headington 22 82.49x
Reading St Giles 22 10.74x
Newbury 21 31.40x
Paddington London 21 2.05x
Reading St Mary 20 11.96x
Aston 19 0.98x
Lancing 19 147.52x
Pewsey 19 105.03x
Preston Candover 19 482.23x
Speen 19 55.62x
Battersea 18 1.76x
Birmingham 18 0.77x
Fordingbridge 17 54.84x
Horspath 17 551.95x
Godalming 16 18.76x
Rotherham 16 10.30x
Steventon 16 181.82x
Moore Critchell 15 429.80x
Bradford 14 2.10x
Ramsbury 14 62.84x
St George Hanover Square 14 2.86x
Winkfield 14 40.42x
Wolverhampton 14 1.94x
Folkestone 13 7.06x
St Michaelinthe Vale 13 44.19x
Westminster St Margaret 13 9.69x
Wimbledon 13 8.54x
Cirencester 12 16.25x
Limpsfield 12 92.59x
Markfield 12 78.48x
Sapperton 12 237.15x
Seal 12 78.33x
Tonbridge 12 3.51x
Bromley London 11 1.80x
Chatham 11 4.21x
Clerkenwell London 11 1.68x
Gt Milton 11 189.66x
Horsham 11 12.08x
Hurstpierpoint 11 42.16x
Provost Stour 11 299.73x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 1.11x
Taunton St James 11 16.85x
Abingdon St Helen 10 16.39x
Banstead 10 27.23x
Bulford 10 303.95x
Carisbrooke 10 12.64x
Eastbourne 10 4.63x
Lewisham 10 1.98x
Milton Lilborne 10 174.22x
Rotherhithe 10 2.91x
Southampton St Mary 10 2.79x
Twickenham 10 8.39x
Wandsworth 10 3.74x
Watlington 10 56.88x
West Tytherley 10 246.31x
Cheltenham 9 2.14x
Holdenhurst 9 6.02x
Liverpool 9 0.45x
Twyford 9 66.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 160
Sarah 101
Elizabeth 87
Alice 61
Annie 56
Jane 55
Eliza 54
Emily 50
Ellen 49
Emma 39
Ann 35
Harriet 30
Charlotte 25
Edith 25
Louisa 24
Hannah 23
Maria 22
Florence 21
Rose 21
Ada 20
Caroline 20
Fanny 17
Martha 17
Clara 15
Frances 14
Kate 14
Lucy 14
Sophia 13
Amelia 12
Susan 12
Margaret 9
Anna 8
Anne 8
Selina 8
Catherine 7
Flora 7
Harriett 7
Agnes 6
Amy 6
Beatrice 6
Eleanor 6
Ethel 6
Helen 6
Julia 6
Lizzie 6
Lydia 6
Matilda 6
Isabella 5
Rebecca 5
Ruth 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 172
George 140
John 111
Charles 98
James 88
Thomas 82
Henry 78
Edward 36
Alfred 32
Walter 30
Arthur 29
Harry 29
Richard 29
Frank 25
Frederick 25
Albert 23
Joseph 21
Robert 17
David 16
Ernest 15
Stephen 15
Herbert 14
Edwin 11
Francis 10
Wm. 10
Edmund 9
Fred 9
Samuel 8
Thos. 8
Alexander 6
Percy 6
Chas. 5
Fredk. 5
Geo. 5
Jesse 4
Sidney 4
Benjamin 3
Christopher 3
Daniel 3
Fredrick 3
Isaac 3
Maurice 3
Oliver 3
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
C. 2
Elias 2
Jessie 2
Moses 2
Reuben 2

FAQ

Kimber surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kimber surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,829 people were recorded with the Kimber surname. That placed it at #1,577 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kimber surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,568 in 2016. That gives Kimber a modern rank of #1,900.

What does the Kimber surname mean?

An English occupational surname for one who made or repaired tubs and barrels, derived from the Old English "cymbren".

What does the Kimber map show?

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