NameCensus.

UK surname

Kimsey

Derived from a place name meaning "Cynesige's island" in Old English, likely referring to an early bearer's residence.

In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Kimsey surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 110, ranked #29,225, down from #28,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Meesden, London parishes and Leek. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, North Hertfordshire and Broxbourne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kimsey is 132 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 182.1%.

1881 census count

39

Ranked #28,137

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

1911

132 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kimsey had 39 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 132 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Kimsey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kimsey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kimsey 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 42 #25,706
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 39 #28,137
1891 historical 86 #25,951
1901 historical 98 #23,119
1911 historical 132 #19,313
1997 modern 99 #27,039
1998 modern 109 #26,273
1999 modern 111 #26,182
2000 modern 116 #25,452
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 114 #25,886
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 108 #26,741
2005 modern 103 #27,531
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 101 #28,505
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 103 #29,127
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 114 #28,347
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 111 #28,986
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

Back to top

Where Kimseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Meesden, London parishes, Leek, Enfield and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, North Hertfordshire, Broxbourne, East Hertfordshire and Luton. 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 Meesden Hertfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Leek Staffordshire
4 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 016 East Lindsey
2 North Hertfordshire 002 North Hertfordshire
3 Broxbourne 004 Broxbourne
4 East Hertfordshire 001 East Hertfordshire
5 Luton 008 Luton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kimsey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kimsey

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Kimsey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Kimsey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Kimsey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kimsey is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kimsey 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 Kimsey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kimsey

The surname Kimsey is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English personal name "Cyma," which means "visitor" or "guest." The name may have initially referred to someone who frequently traveled or visited different places.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Kimsey can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known references is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, where a William de Kymesay is mentioned in 1297. This indicates that the surname was already in use during the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various historical records, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, where a Richard de Kymesey is listed. The name also appeared in the Wills and Inventories of the Archdeaconry of Richmond in 1392, where a Thomas Kymsey is mentioned.

One notable historical figure with the surname Kimsey was John Kimsey, who lived in the 16th century. He was an English clergyman and served as the Rector of Stoke Dry in Rutland from 1542 until his death in 1583.

Another individual of note was William Kimsey, born in 1628 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Leeds during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the surname Kimsey was also found in various parts of England. One example is Robert Kimsey, born in 1712 in Lincolnshire, who was a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker.

Moving into the 19th century, the surname Kimsey continued to be present in various regions of England. One notable figure was Henry Kimsey, born in 1823 in Derbyshire. He was a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings in the region.

Another individual of significance was Elizabeth Kimsey, born in 1845 in Lancashire. She was a pioneering educator and established one of the first schools for girls in the area, providing education opportunities for underprivileged children.

Over time, the surname Kimsey has evolved and taken on different spellings, such as Kymsey, Kemsay, and Kimsay, reflecting regional variations and the influence of local dialects. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, tracing back to its Old English roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Kimsey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kimsey 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. Hertfordshire leads with 18 Kimseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.65x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 18 68.65x
Surrey 7 3.78x
Bedfordshire 6 30.46x
Middlesex 6 1.58x
Cheshire 2 2.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Meesden in Hertfordshire leads with 12 Kimseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 60000.00x.

Place Total Index
Meesden 12 60000.00x
Luton 6 175.95x
Mile End Old Town London 5 61.73x
Southwark Christchurch 4 224.72x
Brent Pelham 3 10000.00x
Aspenden 2 2500.00x
Sale 2 194.17x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 26.14x
Bermondsey 1 8.83x
Broxbourne 1 192.31x
Islington London 1 2.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 3
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Julia 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 4
William 4
George 3
James 3
Edward 2
Nathan 1
Samuel 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 Kimsey households.

FAQ

Kimsey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kimsey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Kimsey surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kimsey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Kimsey a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Kimsey surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Cynesige's island" in Old English, likely referring to an early bearer's residence.

What does the Kimsey map show?

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