NameCensus.

UK surname

Kingsbury

A locational surname referring to a person who lived in or came from a place called Kingsbury.

In the 1881 census there were 679 people recorded with the Kingsbury surname, ranking it #5,302 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,042, ranked #5,595, down from #5,302 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Giles Camberwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Slough, Epping Forest and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kingsbury is 1,096 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.5%.

1881 census count

679

Ranked #5,302

Modern count

1,042

2016, ranked #5,595

Peak year

1999

1,096 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kingsbury had 679 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,302 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,042 in 2016, ranked #5,595.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 969 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kingsbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kingsbury surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kingsbury 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 516 #4,849
1861 historical 491 #5,322
1881 historical 679 #5,302
1891 historical 745 #5,342
1901 historical 856 #5,331
1911 historical 969 #4,667
1997 modern 1,063 #5,222
1998 modern 1,074 #5,364
1999 modern 1,096 #5,295
2000 modern 1,073 #5,370
2001 modern 1,058 #5,333
2002 modern 1,080 #5,353
2003 modern 1,067 #5,305
2004 modern 1,050 #5,387
2005 modern 995 #5,575
2006 modern 990 #5,606
2007 modern 1,002 #5,601
2008 modern 997 #5,663
2009 modern 1,037 #5,608
2010 modern 1,073 #5,550
2011 modern 1,049 #5,592
2012 modern 1,024 #5,631
2013 modern 1,056 #5,567
2014 modern 1,066 #5,561
2015 modern 1,049 #5,580
2016 modern 1,042 #5,595

Geography

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Where Kingsburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, St Giles Camberwell and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Slough, Epping Forest, North Dorset, Wakefield and Wiltshire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
5 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Slough 001 Slough
2 Epping Forest 002 Epping Forest
3 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
4 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
5 Wiltshire 025 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kingsbury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kingsbury

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kingsbury is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kingsbury 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

Kingsbury falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kingsbury

The surname Kingsbury is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Kingsbury, which is found in various parts of England, including Middlesex, Somerset, and Warwickshire. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "cyning" meaning "king" and "bury" meaning "fortified place" or "manor."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kingsbury can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086. This comprehensive survey of England, commissioned by William the Conqueror, mentions the manor of Kingsbury in Middlesex. The name was likely given to the settlement due to its association with a royal estate or its proximity to a royal residence.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Kyngesbury, who held lands in Somerset. This early spelling variation, "Kyngesbury," highlights the name's connection to the word "king." Another notable early bearer of the name was John Kingsbury, who was born around 1380 in Warwickshire and served as a member of Parliament for that county in 1410.

During the 16th century, the name Kingsbury gained prominence with the rise of a family of that name in Warwickshire. One of the most notable members was Sir John Kingsbury (1532-1592), a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1576. His son, Sir Radulphus Kingsbury (1567-1628), was knighted by King James I in 1603.

In the 17th century, the name Kingsbury appeared in various parts of England, including Middlesex and Somerset. A notable figure from this period was John Kingsbury (1639-1712), a Puritan clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Barnston in Essex.

Another significant bearer of the Kingsbury name was Reverend William Kingsbury (1744-1818), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and natural history. He was born in Warwickshire and served as the rector of Ludgershall in Wiltshire for over 40 years.

As the name spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and colonization. In the 18th and 19th centuries, several individuals with the surname Kingsbury were recorded as settlers in the American colonies and later in the United States. Notable examples include Benjamin Kingsbury (1765-1844), a pioneer settler in Ohio, and Albert Kingsbury (1809-1899), a prominent lawyer and politician in Indiana.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kingsbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kingsbury 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. Surrey leads with 114 Kingsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.54x.

County Total Index
Surrey 114 3.54x
Dorset 113 26.07x
Somerset 77 7.24x
Middlesex 70 1.06x
Essex 55 4.22x
Sussex 39 3.50x
Hampshire 36 2.66x
Suffolk 35 4.35x
Lancashire 29 0.37x
Kent 15 0.67x
Wiltshire 15 2.57x
Glamorgan 10 0.87x
Lincolnshire 8 0.76x
Norfolk 8 0.79x
Flintshire 7 3.94x
Monmouthshire 7 1.47x
Cheshire 6 0.41x
Leicestershire 6 0.82x
Yorkshire 5 0.08x
Berkshire 3 0.61x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.75x
Devon 3 0.22x
Warwickshire 3 0.18x
Gloucestershire 2 0.15x
Hertfordshire 2 0.44x
Banffshire 1 0.73x
Cornwall 1 0.13x
Durham 1 0.05x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 1.27x
Shropshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 30 Kingsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.11x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 30 7.11x
Newington 28 11.48x
Worle 23 1050.23x
Winterborne Whitechurch 18 1894.74x
Burnham 17 352.70x
Croydon 17 9.52x
Iwerne Courtnay 15 513.70x
Buckland Newton 14 721.65x
Chesilborne 14 1750.00x
Christchurch 14 47.70x
Frant 13 164.77x
Southwark St George Martyr 13 9.78x
Withyam 12 251.57x
Kensington London 11 3.00x
East Peckham 10 213.68x
Chelsea London 9 4.52x
Liverpool 9 1.89x
Aberdare 8 10.13x
Blandford Forum 8 93.57x
Dorrington 8 888.89x
Lambeth 8 1.39x
Little Waldingfield 8 851.06x
Prittlewell 8 44.27x
Todmorden Walsden 8 38.11x
Boxford 7 469.80x
Clatworthy 7 1372.55x
Palgrave 7 414.20x
St Decumans Watchet 7 260.22x
St Marylebone London 7 1.99x
Trevethin 7 15.52x
Barlavington 6 1428.57x
Broad Chalk 6 361.45x
Clapham 6 7.27x
Everton 6 2.40x
Henstridge 6 204.08x
Hooton 6 1666.67x
Kegworth 6 123.20x
Morden 6 326.09x
Ringwood 6 69.28x
St Clement Danes London 6 43.89x
St George Hanover Square 6 5.16x
Tooting Graveney 6 67.04x
West Quantoxhead 6 952.38x
Weymouth 6 73.08x
Whitford 6 65.22x
Bures St Mary 5 409.84x
Caundle Bishop 5 657.89x
Horsington 5 294.12x
Islington London 5 0.78x
Taunton St James 5 32.26x
Thetford St Cuthbert 5 136.24x
Walthamstow 5 10.66x
Wedmore 5 72.25x
Acton 4 10.33x
Beaminster 4 82.99x
Chester All Sts 4 380.95x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.85x
Portsea 4 1.51x
Salisbury St Thomas 4 86.39x
Streatham 4 8.16x
Winterborne Stickland 4 366.97x
Barking 3 7.87x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.05x
Bures St Mary 3 153.06x
Farnborough 3 21.10x
Hackney London 3 0.81x
Oldham 3 1.19x
Polstead 3 159.57x
Reading St Mary 3 7.55x
Rotherfield 3 30.61x
St Pancras London 3 0.56x
Sutton Waldron 3 697.67x
Weare 3 204.08x
Wetherby 3 70.42x
Burnham 2 39.29x
Featherstone 2 27.21x
Fordington 2 21.41x
Hintlesham 2 155.04x
Kingston Deverill 2 317.46x
Rochester St Nicholas 2 28.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 22
Ellen 14
Jane 14
Emily 13
Alice 11
Annie 11
Emma 11
Ann 10
Eliza 9
Louisa 8
Martha 7
Harriet 6
Maria 6
Frances 5
Kate 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Lucy 4
Margaret 4
Matilda 4
Amelia 3
Bessie 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Augusta 2
Beatrice 2
Cecila 2
Esther 2
Gertrude 2
Helen 2
Laura 2
Lydia 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Rosina 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 44
John 32
George 26
Thomas 21
James 17
Charles 16
Henry 14
Joseph 14
Walter 12
Robert 10
Edward 9
Arthur 8
Frederick 8
Herbert 8
Alfred 6
Samuel 6
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Isaac 5
Francis 4
Jesse 4
Edwin 3
Phillip 3
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Frank 2
Job 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Robt. 2
Bertie 1
Douglas 1
E. 1
Ebenezer 1
Edoward 1
Fred 1
Fredric 1
Geo.Thos. 1
Harold 1
Haydon 1
Hensley 1
Louis 1
Nelson 1
Neville 1
Rees 1
Sansom 1
Sidney 1
Zabina 1

FAQ

Kingsbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kingsbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 679 people were recorded with the Kingsbury surname. That placed it at #5,302 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kingsbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,042 in 2016. That gives Kingsbury a modern rank of #5,595.

What does the Kingsbury surname mean?

A locational surname referring to a person who lived in or came from a place called Kingsbury.

What does the Kingsbury map show?

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