NameCensus.

UK surname

Kimmins

A diminutive of the surname Kimmitt, likely derived from a nickname for the given name Kempe.

In the 1881 census there were 145 people recorded with the Kimmins surname, ranking it #15,838 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 369, ranked #12,617, up from #15,838 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyndford, Coatdyke and Whinhall and Greenock Upper Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kimmins is 386 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 154.5%.

1881 census count

145

Ranked #15,838

Modern count

369

2016, ranked #12,617

Peak year

1998

386 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kimmins had 145 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,838 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 369 in 2016, ranked #12,617.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 206 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Kimmins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kimmins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kimmins 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 93 #17,946
1861 historical 81 #23,431
1881 historical 145 #15,838
1891 historical 148 #18,506
1901 historical 190 #15,634
1911 historical 206 #14,677
1997 modern 371 #11,645
1998 modern 386 #11,668
1999 modern 385 #11,771
2000 modern 381 #11,814
2001 modern 367 #11,968
2002 modern 364 #12,268
2003 modern 343 #12,607
2004 modern 344 #12,597
2005 modern 342 #12,579
2006 modern 340 #12,722
2007 modern 344 #12,743
2008 modern 344 #12,874
2009 modern 337 #13,318
2010 modern 355 #13,099
2011 modern 354 #12,982
2012 modern 365 #12,547
2013 modern 367 #12,707
2014 modern 364 #12,876
2015 modern 358 #12,942
2016 modern 369 #12,617

Geography

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Where Kimmins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes, Govan Combination, St Pancras and Puxton, Congresbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyndford, Coatdyke and Whinhall, Greenock Upper Central, Breckland and Cornwall. 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 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Puxton, Congresbury Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyndford Glasgow City
2 Coatdyke and Whinhall North Lanarkshire
3 Greenock Upper Central Inverclyde
4 Breckland 002 Breckland
5 Cornwall 040 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kimmins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kimmins

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Kimmins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kimmins household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Kimmins is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kimmins is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kimmins falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kimmins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kimmins

The surname Kimmins is of English origin, deriving from the ancient Anglo-Saxon name Cynemund or Cynemunde, which translates to "royal protector." It emerged in the 8th century and was initially prevalent in the counties of Warwickshire and Gloucestershire.

The name Kimmins is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cyne" (royal) and "mund" (protector or guardian). This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have held positions of authority or served as royal guards or protectors.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kimmins can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cynemunde." This historical record provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of names during the Norman Conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name Kimmins began to appear in various spellings, such as Kymyns, Kymyn, and Kymens, reflecting the linguistic evolution and regional variations of the time. These variations were likely influenced by the Norman-French language brought to England after the Norman Conquest.

Notable individuals with the surname Kimmins throughout history include Sir Benjamin Kimmins (1778-1857), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and fought at the Battle of Waterloo. Another prominent figure was John Kimmins (1840-1919), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Kimmins was associated with the village of Kimmins, located in Gloucestershire, indicating a potential connection between the name and a specific place of origin. This village name may have derived from the same Old English roots as the surname itself.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Kimmins family was well-established in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, where several notable individuals bearing the name resided. One such figure was Thomas Kimmins (1675-1742), a prominent merchant and landowner who served as Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon in 1728.

Another noteworthy individual was Elizabeth Kimmins (1827-1901), a British educator and philanthropist who founded several schools and institutions for underprivileged children in London during the Victorian era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kimmins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kimmins 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. Middlesex leads with 29 Kimmins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.04x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 29 2.04x
Kent 20 4.12x
Lanarkshire 15 3.26x
Sussex 14 5.83x
Devon 13 4.39x
Surrey 12 1.73x
Durham 9 2.12x
Somerset 7 3.05x
Gloucestershire 6 2.15x
Midlothian 6 3.14x
Lancashire 5 0.30x
Essex 2 0.71x
Glamorgan 2 0.81x
Suffolk 2 1.15x
Lincolnshire 1 0.44x
Monmouthshire 1 0.97x
Royal Navy 1 5.89x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelsea London in Middlesex leads with 16 Kimmins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.28x.

Place Total Index
Chelsea London 16 37.28x
Brighton 13 26.84x
Camberwell 9 9.89x
Gateshead 9 28.37x
Govan 8 7.02x
Dalserf 7 152.17x
Sittingbourne 7 182.29x
Taunton St Mary 7 166.27x
Holsworthy 6 714.29x
Crediton 5 177.94x
Kensington London 5 6.31x
Leonard Stanley 5 1351.35x
Liverpool 5 4.87x
Tonbridge 4 22.82x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 3.91x
Frindsbury 3 163.93x
Inveresk 3 58.03x
Strood 3 108.30x
Woking 3 71.77x
Barking 2 24.30x
Cardiff St John 2 24.69x
Hackney London 2 2.50x
Islington London 2 1.45x
Poplar London 2 7.44x
Westminster St John 2 11.53x
Brocklesby 1 769.23x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 30.67x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.67x
Devonport 1 29.33x
Portskewett 1 416.67x
Preston 1 23.87x
Ramsgate 1 12.61x
Royal Navy 1 6.89x
Scarborough 1 7.80x
St Lawrence 1 29.94x
Stansfield 1 500.00x
Tiverton 1 19.57x
Westbury On Trym 1 10.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 6
Annie 4
Emma 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Edith 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Cecelia 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Elizth.Cath. 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Hannah 1
Isabel 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Maryan 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Thura 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 10
George 5
John 5
William 5
Henry 4
Thomas 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Frank 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Fredricke 1
Howard 1
J. 1
Percy 1
Riddy 1
Robt.James 1
Wilm. 1
Wm.Sutherland 1

FAQ

Kimmins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kimmins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 145 people were recorded with the Kimmins surname. That placed it at #15,838 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kimmins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 369 in 2016. That gives Kimmins a modern rank of #12,617.

What does the Kimmins surname mean?

A diminutive of the surname Kimmitt, likely derived from a nickname for the given name Kempe.

What does the Kimmins map show?

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