NameCensus.

UK surname

Kingdon

A surname derived from an English placename containing the elements "king" and "dun" meaning a hill or mound.

In the 1881 census there were 936 people recorded with the Kingdon surname, ranking it #4,116 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,312, ranked #4,576, down from #4,116 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, Mid Devon and West Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kingdon is 1,493 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.2%.

1881 census count

936

Ranked #4,116

Modern count

1,312

2016, ranked #4,576

Peak year

1911

1,493 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kingdon had 936 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,116 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,312 in 2016, ranked #4,576.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,493 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kingdon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kingdon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kingdon 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 915 #3,016
1861 historical 855 #3,238
1881 historical 936 #4,116
1891 historical 1,154 #3,699
1901 historical 1,240 #3,989
1911 historical 1,493 #3,234
1997 modern 1,329 #4,324
1998 modern 1,426 #4,213
1999 modern 1,423 #4,242
2000 modern 1,462 #4,143
2001 modern 1,422 #4,169
2002 modern 1,420 #4,244
2003 modern 1,402 #4,227
2004 modern 1,365 #4,319
2005 modern 1,344 #4,322
2006 modern 1,353 #4,312
2007 modern 1,318 #4,435
2008 modern 1,344 #4,394
2009 modern 1,364 #4,417
2010 modern 1,386 #4,439
2011 modern 1,370 #4,430
2012 modern 1,327 #4,488
2013 modern 1,323 #4,582
2014 modern 1,334 #4,570
2015 modern 1,324 #4,562
2016 modern 1,312 #4,576

Geography

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Where Kingdons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, Mid Devon and West Somerset. 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 North Molton, Highbray Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 013 North Devon
2 North Devon 014 North Devon
3 North Devon 006 North Devon
4 Mid Devon 001 Mid Devon
5 West Somerset 002 West Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kingdon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kingdon

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

Kingdon is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kingdon falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kingdon

The surname Kingdon originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "cyning" and "dun," meaning "king's hill" or "king's fort." The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 during the reign of William the Conqueror.

The Kingdon family is believed to have hailed from the counties of Devon and Somerset in southwest England. In the 13th century, records mention a Richard de Kyngesdone who held lands in Devon. The name was often associated with these areas, likely due to the family's ownership of estates or manors near fortified hills or settlements.

Over the centuries, the surname underwent various spelling variations, including Kingsdon, Kyngdon, and Kingdonne. These variations were common before standardized spelling became widespread. The name's evolution also reflected regional dialects and scribal errors in transcribing records.

One notable early bearer of the Kingdon surname was Sir Thomas Kyngdon, a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 14th century. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1367 and played a significant role in the city's governance and trade.

In the 16th century, the Kingdon family established roots in Devon, particularly around the town of Kingdon (now known as Kingsdon). This place name is derived from the same Old English words that gave rise to the surname, further solidifying the family's connection to the region.

Another notable figure was Sir John Kyngdon, born in 1580 in Somerset. He was a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, one of the highest judicial positions in England at the time.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Kingdon loyalties were divided. While some supported the Royalist cause, others sided with the Parliamentarians. One such Parliamentarian was Captain Henry Kingdon, who fought alongside Oliver Cromwell's forces and was renowned for his military exploits.

In the 18th century, the Reverend John Kingdon, born in 1706 in Devon, was a respected clergyman and author. He wrote several theological works and served as the rector of several parishes in the region.

As the name spread across England, it remained most concentrated in the southwestern counties of Devon and Somerset, where many Kingdon families continued to reside on ancestral lands and estates.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kingdon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kingdon 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. Devon leads with 430 Kingdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.65x.

County Total Index
Devon 430 22.65x
Middlesex 83 0.91x
Somerset 79 5.38x
Cornwall 67 6.49x
Glamorgan 65 4.09x
Gloucestershire 48 2.68x
Surrey 25 0.56x
Yorkshire 25 0.28x
Lancashire 17 0.16x
Hampshire 14 0.75x
Kent 10 0.32x
Durham 9 0.33x
Sussex 8 0.52x
Cheshire 7 0.35x
Norfolk 7 0.50x
Derbyshire 6 0.42x
Suffolk 5 0.45x
Royal Navy 4 3.68x
Berkshire 3 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.24x
Wiltshire 3 0.37x
Worcestershire 3 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.35x
Dorset 2 0.33x
Essex 2 0.11x
Lincolnshire 2 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.18x
Merionethshire 1 0.60x
Monmouthshire 1 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.18x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.35x
Warwickshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Molton in Devon leads with 48 Kingdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 460.21x.

Place Total Index
South Molton 48 460.21x
Barnstaple 29 97.32x
Bishops Nympton 23 635.36x
Northmolton 22 1929.82x
Buckland West 19 1652.17x
Clifton 19 21.01x
Swansea Town 17 13.06x
Plymouth St Andrew 14 9.57x
Shoreditch London 14 3.54x
Stoke Damerel 13 9.78x
Cardiff St John 12 23.13x
Neath 12 37.14x
Dulverton 11 255.81x
Exmoor 11 1122.45x
Horton In Bradford 11 7.79x
St Austell 11 31.16x
Bedminster 10 7.25x
Exeter St Paul 10 265.96x
Lambeth 10 1.26x
Landcross 10 3703.70x
Morchard Bishop 10 252.53x
Penarth 10 64.43x
Rame 10 375.94x
St Marylebone London 10 2.05x
St Pancras London 10 1.36x
Oystermouth 9 73.23x
St Martin In Fields 9 16.48x
Bampton 8 137.69x
Bristol St Paul In 8 16.79x
Exeter St David 8 49.32x
George Nympton 8 1311.48x
Paddington London 8 2.39x
St Breward 8 352.42x
Colan 7 921.05x
Exeter Heavitree 7 49.44x
Exeter St Leonard 7 134.62x
Horfield 7 38.89x
Hulme 7 3.10x
Kittisford 7 2000.00x
Porlock 7 292.89x
Rackenford 7 619.47x
St Stephen 7 191.26x
Burrington 6 247.93x
Carhampton 6 298.51x
Coldridge 6 416.67x
Newington 6 1.78x
North Molton 6 162.16x
Oxton 6 52.68x
Pilton 6 95.69x
Plymouth Charles The 6 7.17x
Plympton St Mary 6 54.69x
Swimbridge 6 156.25x
Tavistock 6 27.74x
Witheridge 6 187.50x
Basingstoke 5 23.26x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 2.97x
Colyton 5 68.59x
Cullompton 5 60.31x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 2.72x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 11.50x
Goodleigh 5 641.03x
Great Torrington 5 46.43x
Ottery St Mary 5 40.16x
Ringmore 5 641.03x
Silverton 5 126.58x
Spondon 5 91.07x
Tiverton 5 15.29x
Warbstowe 5 909.09x
Whitstone 5 390.63x
Willington 5 31.89x
Wincanton 5 66.14x
Battersea 4 1.19x
Cockerton 4 45.98x
Cruwys Morchard 4 210.53x
Georgeham 4 167.36x
Ipswich St Lawrence 4 266.67x
Loxhore 4 606.06x
Portsea 4 1.09x
Sherwill 4 312.50x
Tottenham 4 2.75x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 83
John 69
George 24
Thomas 24
James 23
Henry 22
Charles 12
Alfred 11
Frederick 10
Richard 10
Robert 10
Edward 7
Walter 7
Arthur 5
Joseph 5
Oliver 5
Francis 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Wm. 4
Abraham 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Percy 3
Samuel 3
Daniel 2
Geo. 2
Jacob 2
Philip 2
Richd. 2
Sidney 2
Alfrid 1
Ambrose 1
Bruce 1
Campbell 1
Charley 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Esau 1
Esther 1
Everard 1
Ezekiel 1
Henery 1
Hollingworth 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Zachary 1

FAQ

Kingdon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kingdon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 936 people were recorded with the Kingdon surname. That placed it at #4,116 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kingdon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,312 in 2016. That gives Kingdon a modern rank of #4,576.

What does the Kingdon surname mean?

A surname derived from an English placename containing the elements "king" and "dun" meaning a hill or mound.

What does the Kingdon map show?

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