UK surname
From the Old English words "cyne" and "leah," meaning "royal meadow" or "clearing of the king."
In the 1881 census there were 136 people recorded with the Kimberly surname, ranking it #16,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #16,433 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kimberly is 199 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.5%.
1881 census count
136
Ranked #16,433
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1861
199 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kimberly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kimberly surname density by area, 1881 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 | 177 | #11,441 |
| 1861 | historical | 199 | #12,062 |
| 1881 | historical | 136 | #16,433 |
| 1891 | historical | 119 | #21,415 |
| 1901 | historical | 135 | #19,203 |
| 1911 | historical | 166 | #16,756 |
| 1997 | modern | 27 | #35,016 |
| 1998 | modern | 25 | #35,365 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 9 | #37,302 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 32 | #35,820 |
| 2013 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
| 2014 | modern | 35 | #35,722 |
| 2015 | modern | 34 | #35,756 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire), Bromsgrove, Upton Warren and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken | Warwickshire |
| 3 | Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Bromsgrove, Upton Warren | Worcestershire |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kimberly 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 Kimberly, 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 Kimberly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kimberly 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, Kimberly 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 Kimberly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kimberly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kimberly originated in England, with roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era, which spanned from the 5th to the 11th centuries. It is derived from the Old English words "cymbri," meaning "Britons," and "leah," which refers to a woodland clearing or meadow.
Kimberly was initially a place name, referring to settlements or villages located in clearings within wooded areas inhabited by the ancient Britons. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cumberlie" and "Cumberleia," referring to places in Norfolk and Lincolnshire, respectively.
During the Middle Ages, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Kymberley, Kymberlie, and Kimberly, as it was adapted to different regional dialects. One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Sir John Kymberley, a 14th-century English knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.
In the 16th century, the name Kimberly gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Kymberley (1508-1554), a renowned English churchman and scholar who served as the Dean of Lichfield Cathedral. Another notable figure was Sir Henry Kimberly (1570-1625), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire.
The 17th century saw the emergence of the Kimberly family as prominent landowners and gentry in the county of Norfolk. One notable member was Sir John Kimberly (1638-1707), a baronet and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
In the 18th century, the name Kimberly gained further prominence with the birth of Sir John Kimberly (1726-1793), a British naval officer who served with distinction during the American Revolutionary War. Another notable figure was John Kimberly (1742-1826), an American merchant and politician who served as a Delegate to the Continental Congress from Connecticut.
The 19th century witnessed the continued prominence of the Kimberly name, with individuals such as John Kimberly (1809-1891), an American industrialist and co-founder of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a leading manufacturer of paper-based products.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kimberly 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. Warwickshire leads with 35 Kimberlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 35 | 10.46x |
| Staffordshire | 27 | 6.03x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 0.83x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 0.83x |
| Surrey | 10 | 1.55x |
| Worcestershire | 9 | 5.20x |
| Nottinghamshire | 8 | 4.47x |
| Kent | 5 | 1.10x |
| Midlothian | 5 | 2.81x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 2.00x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.72x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 1.60x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.25x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.37x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.68x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.49x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.22x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.85x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 11 Kimberlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.87x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 11 | 9.87x |
| West Bromwich | 8 | 31.20x |
| Foulridge | 7 | 1750.00x |
| Blackburn | 6 | 14.33x |
| Edgbaston | 6 | 57.86x |
| Mansfield | 6 | 96.93x |
| Oldbury | 6 | 70.42x |
| Tipton | 6 | 43.76x |
| Willenhall | 6 | 71.51x |
| Bermondsey | 5 | 12.66x |
| Deptford St Paul | 5 | 14.32x |
| Leamington Priors | 5 | 60.75x |
| Wombourn | 5 | 602.41x |
| Corstorphine | 4 | 408.16x |
| Islington London | 4 | 3.11x |
| Antony | 3 | 206.90x |
| Aston | 3 | 3.26x |
| Bedworth | 3 | 122.95x |
| Bethnal Green London | 3 | 5.21x |
| Farnham | 3 | 59.64x |
| Sutton Coldfield | 3 | 85.23x |
| Bromsgrove | 2 | 34.31x |
| Coventry Holy Trinity | 2 | 20.02x |
| Harworth | 2 | 800.00x |
| Isleworth | 2 | 33.90x |
| Stoke Damerel | 2 | 10.35x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 10.98x |
| Bradford On Avon | 1 | 26.60x |
| Coventry St Michael | 1 | 9.30x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 1.40x |
| Horsell | 1 | 243.90x |
| Kings Lynn St Margaret | 1 | 16.34x |
| Kings Sutton | 1 | 181.82x |
| Kingswinford | 1 | 6.15x |
| Leamington | 1 | 45.05x |
| Northampton St Sepulchre | 1 | 15.75x |
| Oxford St Giles | 1 | 25.58x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.05x |
| Richmond | 1 | 11.04x |
| Seals | 1 | 192.31x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 0.94x |
| Stranton | 1 | 7.52x |
| Wolstanton | 1 | 7.35x |
| Yardley | 1 | 22.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kimberly 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 Kimberly 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 Kimberly households.
FAQ
In 1881, 136 people were recorded with the Kimberly surname. That placed it at #16,433 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Kimberly a modern rank of #35,648.
From the Old English words "cyne" and "leah," meaning "royal meadow" or "clearing of the king."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kimberly 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.