NameCensus.

UK surname

Kingsley

From the English place name meaning "king's meadow," or referring to someone living near or working in such a place.

In the 1881 census there were 524 people recorded with the Kingsley surname, ranking it #6,528 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,654, ranked #3,770, up from #6,528 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ippollitts, London parishes and Pirton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, North Hertfordshire and Watford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kingsley is 1,685 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 215.6%.

1881 census count

524

Ranked #6,528

Modern count

1,654

2016, ranked #3,770

Peak year

2014

1,685 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kingsley had 524 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,528 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,654 in 2016, ranked #3,770.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 700 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kingsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kingsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kingsley 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 260 #8,512
1861 historical 318 #7,999
1881 historical 524 #6,528
1891 historical 568 #6,687
1901 historical 700 #6,290
1911 historical 698 #6,092
1997 modern 1,478 #3,957
1998 modern 1,525 #3,992
1999 modern 1,519 #4,037
2000 modern 1,509 #4,040
2001 modern 1,462 #4,074
2002 modern 1,493 #4,090
2003 modern 1,517 #3,961
2004 modern 1,507 #3,979
2005 modern 1,490 #3,985
2006 modern 1,482 #4,007
2007 modern 1,506 #3,987
2008 modern 1,528 #3,945
2009 modern 1,557 #3,978
2010 modern 1,635 #3,882
2011 modern 1,599 #3,912
2012 modern 1,602 #3,843
2013 modern 1,654 #3,797
2014 modern 1,685 #3,745
2015 modern 1,670 #3,749
2016 modern 1,654 #3,770

Geography

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Where Kingsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ippollitts, London parishes, Pirton and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, North Hertfordshire, Watford, Halton and Slough. 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 Ippollitts Hertfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Pirton Hertfordshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 006 Swale
2 North Hertfordshire 005 North Hertfordshire
3 Watford 008 Watford
4 Halton 001 Halton
5 Slough 003 Slough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kingsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kingsley

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Kingsley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kingsley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Kingsley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kingsley is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kingsley 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 Kingsley 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 Kingsley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kingsley

The surname Kingsley originates from England, having its roots traced back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "cyning" meaning king, and "leah" meaning a meadow or cleared woodland area.

The earliest recorded use of the name Kingsley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. It mentions several landowners with the surname Kingsley, indicating their presence in various parts of England during that period.

Over the centuries, the name Kingsley has undergone various spelling variations, including Kingsleigh, Kyngsley, and Kyngesleye. These variations were largely due to inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the surname was Sir John Kingsley (c. 1305-1367), an English soldier and landowner from Cheshire. He served as a knight during the Hundred Years' War and was recognized for his valor in battles against the French.

Another prominent figure was Edward Kingsley (1577-1645), an English merchant and member of the Virginia Company. He was involved in the early colonization efforts of British America and played a role in the establishment of Jamestown, one of the first permanent English settlements in the New World.

In the realm of literature, Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) was a renowned English novelist, poet, and clergyman. He authored several influential works, including "The Water-Babies" and "Westward Ho!," which explored themes of social justice and the natural world.

Sir Ben Kingsley (born 1943) is a highly acclaimed British actor, known for his versatile performances in films such as "Gandhi," for which he won an Academy Award, "Schindler's List," and "The Jungle Book."

Another notable figure is Kingsley Amis (1922-1995), an English novelist, poet, and critic. He was a prominent figure in the literary world, known for his satirical works such as "Lucky Jim" and "The Old Devils," which explored themes of academia and social commentary.

Throughout history, the surname Kingsley has been associated with various locations and place names, such as Kingsley, Cheshire; Kingsley, Staffordshire; and Kingsley, Hampshire, among others. These place names likely influenced the development and spread of the surname across different regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kingsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kingsley 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 115 Kingsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.25x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 115 2.25x
Hertfordshire 83 23.51x
Surrey 57 2.28x
Lancashire 52 0.86x
Essex 29 2.87x
Kent 27 1.55x
Yorkshire 23 0.45x
Warwickshire 20 1.55x
Lincolnshire 18 2.20x
Cambridgeshire 15 4.62x
Bedfordshire 12 4.53x
Buckinghamshire 9 2.91x
Hampshire 9 0.86x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.30x
Gloucestershire 7 0.70x
Sussex 6 0.69x
Staffordshire 5 0.29x
Berkshire 4 1.04x
Durham 4 0.26x
Channel Islands 3 1.98x
Devon 3 0.28x
Worcestershire 3 0.45x
Cheshire 2 0.18x
Glamorgan 2 0.22x
Northamptonshire 2 0.42x
Oxfordshire 2 0.63x
Cornwall 1 0.17x
Leicestershire 1 0.18x
Suffolk 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 16 Kingsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.58x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 16 3.58x
Rotherhithe 15 23.71x
Bermondsey 13 8.53x
St Ippollitts 12 674.16x
Kelshall 11 2500.00x
Pirton 11 552.76x
Shoreditch London 11 4.96x
Stratford On Avon 11 153.63x
Tottenham 11 13.49x
Westminster St John 10 16.03x
Barton St Mary 9 218.98x
Melbourn 9 284.81x
Nottingham St Mary 9 5.04x
Rusholme 9 55.52x
Therfield 9 436.89x
Crumpsall 8 55.87x
Dewsbury 8 15.37x
Dover St Mary Virgin 8 47.31x
Sandon 8 597.01x
Walton On Hill 8 24.30x
Braughing 7 386.74x
Finchley 7 35.66x
Hitchin 7 43.94x
Immingham 7 1489.36x
Maidstone 7 13.45x
Staines 7 86.31x
Wyddial 7 2000.00x
Hackney London 6 2.09x
Southampton St Mary 6 9.09x
St Pancras London 6 1.46x
Bassingbourn 5 104.82x
Chelmsford 5 28.84x
Edgeworth 5 153.37x
Elsenham 5 609.76x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 5 27.20x
Leeds 5 1.74x
Mile End Old Town London 5 4.59x
St George In East London 5 10.38x
West Ham 5 2.24x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 4 66.01x
Birmingham 4 0.93x
Chearsley 4 975.61x
Chelsea London 4 2.59x
Cottered 4 606.06x
Fryerning 4 325.20x
Fulham London 4 5.39x
Goudhurst 4 82.64x
Hendon 4 21.70x
Hulme 4 3.15x
Islington London 4 0.81x
Kimpton 4 242.42x
Limehouse London 4 7.11x
Shillington 4 102.30x
Westminster St James 4 7.60x
Addington 3 256.41x
Bexley 3 19.42x
Bishops Tachbrook 3 288.46x
Burton Upon Trent 3 7.42x
Leyton Low 3 14.60x
Newington 3 1.59x
North Meols 3 5.04x
Paddington London 3 1.59x
Ratcliffe London 3 10.61x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.32x
St Marylebone London 3 1.10x
Tolleshunt Knights 3 375.00x
Toxteth Park 3 1.46x
West Derby 3 1.69x
Wimbledon 3 10.71x
Bierton With Broughton 2 140.85x
Biggleswade 2 23.04x
East Teignmouth 2 45.87x
Greenwich 2 2.45x
Ore 2 31.10x
Reading St Giles 2 5.30x
Rothwell 2 41.32x
South Kilvington 2 434.78x
St Martin 2 21.51x
Westby With Plumpton 2 212.77x
Ystradyfodwg 2 2.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 22
William 21
Thomas 19
James 17
George 15
Charles 14
Henry 14
Joseph 9
Arthur 7
Edward 7
Alfred 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Wm. 4
Samuel 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Gerald 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Lane 2
Basil 1
Cecil 1
David 1
Egaell 1
Everitt 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fritz 1
Grenville 1
Haliday 1
Joel 1
Johnnie 1
Jonathan 1
Louis 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Noel 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Wm.S. 1

FAQ

Kingsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kingsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 524 people were recorded with the Kingsley surname. That placed it at #6,528 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kingsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,654 in 2016. That gives Kingsley a modern rank of #3,770.

What does the Kingsley surname mean?

From the English place name meaning "king's meadow," or referring to someone living near or working in such a place.

What does the Kingsley map show?

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