NameCensus.

UK surname

Kingham

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,088 people recorded with the Kingham surname, ranking it #3,658 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,393, ranked #4,356, down from #3,658 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, West Berkshire and Milton Keynes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kingham is 1,524 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.0%.

1881 census count

1,088

Ranked #3,658

Modern count

1,393

2016, ranked #4,356

Peak year

2000

1,524 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kingham had 1,088 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,658 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,393 in 2016, ranked #4,356.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,475 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kingham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kingham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kingham 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 612 #4,216
1861 historical 866 #3,203
1881 historical 1,088 #3,658
1891 historical 1,206 #3,557
1901 historical 1,330 #3,767
1911 historical 1,475 #3,263
1997 modern 1,458 #4,002
1998 modern 1,498 #4,053
1999 modern 1,523 #4,026
2000 modern 1,524 #4,012
2001 modern 1,479 #4,032
2002 modern 1,485 #4,107
2003 modern 1,441 #4,124
2004 modern 1,436 #4,142
2005 modern 1,430 #4,128
2006 modern 1,413 #4,165
2007 modern 1,410 #4,206
2008 modern 1,387 #4,288
2009 modern 1,445 #4,234
2010 modern 1,468 #4,256
2011 modern 1,395 #4,368
2012 modern 1,384 #4,340
2013 modern 1,397 #4,381
2014 modern 1,418 #4,348
2015 modern 1,404 #4,346
2016 modern 1,393 #4,356

Geography

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Where Kinghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, London parishes, St Pancras and Risborough, Princes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, West Berkshire, Milton Keynes, Ceredigion and Fenland. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Risborough, Princes Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 019 Central Bedfordshire
2 West Berkshire 014 West Berkshire
3 Milton Keynes 002 Milton Keynes
4 Ceredigion 007 Ceredigion
5 Fenland 010 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kingham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kingham

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Kingham 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

Kingham 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

Kingham falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kingham

The surname Kingham originated in England, specifically in the counties of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cing" meaning king and "ham" meaning homestead or village. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a royal estate or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Kingham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Cheningham." This reference is believed to be related to the village of Kingham in Oxfordshire, which was likely named after the surname or vice versa.

In the 13th century, records show variations of the name spelling, such as "Kyngham" and "Kyngeham." This further supports the connection to the word "king" in its etymology.

One notable individual with the surname Kingham was Sir William Kingham (1460-1528), a prominent landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Henry VIII.

Another historical figure was Richard Kingham (1635-1712), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including a treatise on the Book of Revelation.

In the 18th century, the name was associated with the village of Kingham in Oxfordshire, as evidenced by the birth of John Kingham (1738-1812), a local landowner and farmer.

Moving into the 19th century, John Kingham (1805-1876) was a notable architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Oxfordshire area, leaving a lasting impact on the region's architectural heritage.

Additionally, Henry Kingham (1842-1921) was a successful businessman and philanthropist who founded the Kingham Charity Trust, which provided educational opportunities and support for underprivileged children in Gloucestershire.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and significance of the surname Kingham, particularly in the counties of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, where it has deep roots spanning several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kingham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kingham 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 247 Kinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.33x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 247 2.33x
Hertfordshire 159 21.75x
Buckinghamshire 134 20.90x
Bedfordshire 126 22.95x
Surrey 64 1.24x
Warwickshire 50 1.87x
Yorkshire 47 0.45x
Lancashire 39 0.31x
Kent 32 0.88x
Hampshire 31 1.43x
Essex 19 0.91x
Oxfordshire 17 2.60x
Berkshire 16 2.01x
Derbyshire 15 0.90x
Cheshire 13 0.56x
Northamptonshire 8 0.80x
Sussex 8 0.45x
Worcestershire 7 0.51x
Cumberland 6 0.66x
Lanarkshire 6 0.18x
Northumberland 6 0.38x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.42x
Staffordshire 6 0.17x
Leicestershire 5 0.43x
Norfolk 5 0.31x
Lincolnshire 4 0.24x
Durham 3 0.10x
Wiltshire 3 0.32x
Gloucestershire 2 0.10x
Dorset 1 0.14x
Midlothian 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 41 Kinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.24x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 41 7.24x
St Pancras London 37 4.34x
Birmingham 29 3.25x
Chalgrave 26 817.61x
Luton 26 27.36x
Bethnal Green London 25 5.43x
Codicote 22 504.59x
Tring 22 112.76x
Aston 20 2.72x
Camberwell 19 2.81x
Flitwick 19 639.73x
Chelsea London 18 5.63x
Chesham 18 76.17x
Lambeth 18 1.95x
Aylesbury 17 59.84x
Islington London 17 1.65x
Dinton 16 634.92x
Hemel Hempstead 16 48.59x
Finchley 15 36.90x
Rickmansworth 15 74.55x
Princes Risborough 14 162.98x
Watford 14 24.70x
Westminster St John 13 10.07x
Deptford St Paul 12 4.30x
Headingley Cum Burley 12 17.74x
Aston Clinton 11 202.58x
Enfield 11 15.81x
Haughton 11 59.95x
Keighley 11 9.82x
Liscard 11 26.08x
Toddington 11 139.77x
Weston Turville 11 367.89x
Abbots Langley 10 92.08x
Barrow In Furness 10 5.84x
Farnham 10 24.89x
Speen 10 76.80x
Westminster St James 10 9.17x
Northchurch 9 115.38x
Amersham 8 88.01x
Brampton 8 34.48x
Kensington London 8 1.36x
Kilton 8 506.33x
Arlesey 7 101.01x
Baldock 7 101.89x
Bledlow 7 180.41x
Cuddington 7 404.62x
Greenwich 7 4.15x
Harpenden 7 62.78x
Illmire 7 3043.48x
Kings Norton 7 5.64x
Leeds 7 1.18x
Ockbrook 7 99.29x
Oxford St Clement 7 42.35x
Wanstead 7 19.09x
Welwyn 7 110.58x
Berkhampstead 6 36.52x
East Woodhay 6 108.11x
Eling 6 27.26x
Fulham London 6 3.90x
Glasgow 6 0.99x
Handsworth 6 6.80x
Pendlebury 6 22.58x
Shelford Saxondale 6 309.28x
St Cuthbert W O 6 13.48x
Tilsworth 6 659.34x
Wellingborough 6 11.96x
West Ham 6 1.30x
Aldershot 5 6.87x
Ashby De La Zouch 5 18.35x
Bromley 5 9.07x
Bury 5 3.48x
Houghton Conquest 5 222.22x
Houghton Regis 5 57.14x
Old Buckenham 5 119.62x
Putney 5 10.35x
Tottenham 5 2.96x
Twickenham 5 11.00x
Westoning 5 210.08x
Wheathampstead 5 59.17x
Woodford 5 21.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 63
George 47
John 44
Thomas 44
James 29
Henry 23
Alfred 20
Joseph 20
Arthur 17
Walter 16
Charles 15
Edward 15
Frederick 12
David 11
Robert 10
Albert 9
Harry 9
Richard 9
Frank 8
Herbert 7
Fredric 4
Percy 4
Sidney 4
Fredrick 3
Joshua 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Hugh 2
Jonathan 2
Peter 2
Augustus 1
Berty 1
Cecil 1
Charly 1
Chas. 1
Clara 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Emerton 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Heny. 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Jasper 1
Job 1
Joshia 1

FAQ

Kingham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kingham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,088 people were recorded with the Kingham surname. That placed it at #3,658 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kingham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,393 in 2016. That gives Kingham a modern rank of #4,356.

What does the Kingham surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Kingham map show?

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