NameCensus.

UK surname

Kington

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "king's town" or "royal estate".

In the 1881 census there were 325 people recorded with the Kington surname, ranking it #9,194 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 377, ranked #12,415, down from #9,194 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Bedminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Test Valley and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kington is 479 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.0%.

1881 census count

325

Ranked #9,194

Modern count

377

2016, ranked #12,415

Peak year

1911

479 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kington had 325 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,194 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 377 in 2016, ranked #12,415.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 479 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Multicultural Inner Suburbs.

Kington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kington 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 262 #8,456
1861 historical 443 #5,835
1881 historical 325 #9,194
1891 historical 468 #7,833
1901 historical 451 #8,686
1911 historical 479 #8,088
1997 modern 426 #10,490
1998 modern 447 #10,461
1999 modern 445 #10,535
2000 modern 431 #10,785
2001 modern 427 #10,673
2002 modern 426 #10,918
2003 modern 409 #11,088
2004 modern 416 #10,963
2005 modern 392 #11,355
2006 modern 382 #11,626
2007 modern 389 #11,604
2008 modern 389 #11,723
2009 modern 385 #12,070
2010 modern 407 #11,824
2011 modern 406 #11,730
2012 modern 379 #12,192
2013 modern 390 #12,151
2014 modern 396 #12,100
2015 modern 383 #12,295
2016 modern 377 #12,415

Geography

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Where Kingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Trowbridge and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Test Valley and Sheffield. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Bedminster Somerset
4 Trowbridge Wiltshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 038 Wiltshire
2 Wiltshire 005 Wiltshire
3 Wiltshire 029 Wiltshire
4 Test Valley 012 Test Valley
5 Sheffield 030 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kington

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

Baseline UK

Group

Multicultural Inner Suburbs

Nationally, the Kington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Multicultural Inner Suburbs, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Kington household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house many younger and middle-aged adults with children. All ethnic minorities, apart from those identifying as Pakistani or Bangladeshi, appear to be present in above average proportions. Affiliation to Christian religions is uncommon. Long-term disability rates are low, mirrored in limited provision of unpaid care. Privately rented terrace houses and flats are the norm. Managerial, professional and technical occupations are prevalent, and work is rarely part time. Many individuals have degree level qualifications. These areas form the inner suburbs of many of the UK’s towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Kington is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Kington is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Kington

The surname Kington has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cyning" (king) and "tun" (town or settlement), suggesting that the name may have initially referred to a settlement associated with a king or a royal domain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kington can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a manor called "Chingestone" in Wiltshire, which is thought to be an early spelling variation of the name.

During the medieval period, the name Kington became particularly associated with the town of Kington in Herefordshire, which was once a thriving market town and a center of wool trade. Several historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries mention individuals with the surname Kington residing in or associated with this town.

Notable individuals with the surname Kington throughout history include Sir Thomas Kington (c. 1484-1558), a Member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of London in 1537. Another prominent figure was Sir John Kington (1639-1708), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Warwickshire in the late 17th century.

In the literary realm, Thomas Kington (1730-1804) was an English poet and artist who published several works, including "The Remains of John Tweddell" and "The Literary Panorama." Additionally, Miles Kington (1941-2008) was a British journalist, novelist, and humorous writer known for his work in publications like Punch and The Independent.

The name Kington has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Kington Magna and Kington Priory in Wiltshire, as well as Kington St. Michael and Kington Langley in Wiltshire and Somerset, respectively. These place names likely contributed to the spread and variations of the surname over time.

While the name Kington is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of England's rich historical and linguistic heritage, reflecting the country's diverse and fascinating past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kington 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. Wiltshire leads with 63 Kingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.33x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 63 22.33x
Somerset 44 8.57x
Kent 24 2.21x
Herefordshire 21 16.06x
Middlesex 19 0.60x
Warwickshire 17 2.11x
Surrey 14 0.90x
Derbyshire 13 2.60x
Gloucestershire 12 1.92x
Rutland 12 51.24x
Worcestershire 12 2.88x
Yorkshire 9 0.28x
Northamptonshire 7 2.33x
Berkshire 5 2.09x
Brecknockshire 5 7.84x
Hertfordshire 5 2.27x
Leicestershire 5 1.41x
Norfolk 5 1.02x
Channel Islands 4 4.23x
Midlothian 4 0.94x
Devon 3 0.45x
Essex 3 0.48x
Northumberland 3 0.63x
Staffordshire 3 0.28x
Dorset 2 0.96x
Durham 2 0.21x
Lanarkshire 2 0.19x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Bedfordshire 1 0.61x
Cheshire 1 0.14x
Glamorgan 1 0.18x
Hampshire 1 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.51x
Radnorshire 1 3.89x
Shropshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 26 Kingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.89x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 26 53.89x
Littleton Drew 19 8636.36x
Eardisland 16 1882.35x
Sherston Magna 14 823.53x
Weston Super Mare 11 84.81x
Brooke 10 8333.33x
Derby St Alkmund 9 60.12x
Trowbridge 9 72.17x
Camberwell 8 3.93x
Almondsbury 7 292.89x
Birmingham 7 2.61x
Deenethorpe 7 3181.82x
St George Hanover Square 7 12.46x
Woolwich 7 17.41x
Chatham 6 20.04x
Gillingham 6 26.74x
Kempsey 6 379.75x
Alderton 5 3571.43x
Bramley In Bramley 5 41.32x
Clevedon 5 93.63x
Great Yarmouth 5 12.31x
Llangunider 5 125.94x
Oadby 5 264.55x
Sunninghill 5 150.60x
Edinburgh St Stephens 4 47.56x
Little Munden 4 784.31x
North Bradley 4 194.17x
Yatton Keynell 4 689.66x
Clifton 3 9.48x
Combe 3 3333.33x
Coventry Holy Trinity 3 12.49x
Derby St Peter 3 18.86x
Elswick 3 7.92x
Grittleton 3 882.35x
Handsworth 3 11.30x
Holy Trinity 3 3.95x
Kings Norton 3 8.03x
Lambeth 3 1.08x
St Pancras London 3 1.17x
St Peter Port 3 17.15x
Bow London 2 4.92x
Coventry St Michael 2 7.74x
Eltham 2 31.35x
Exeter St Leonard 2 109.89x
Govan 2 0.78x
Greenwich 2 3.94x
Kenilworth 2 44.15x
Mile End Old Town London 2 2.95x
Oakham Deanshold 2 192.31x
Poplar London 2 3.32x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 3.12x
Stanton St Bernard 2 540.54x
Stranton 2 6.26x
Worcester St Andrew 2 141.84x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.94x
Bedford St Peter 1 23.31x
Bermondsey 1 1.05x
Bristol Christchurch 1 109.89x
Bristol St Stephen 1 61.73x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.27x
Clifford 1 114.94x
Corsham 1 24.27x
Grays Thurrock 1 17.09x
Great Crosby 1 9.69x
Great Maplestead 1 232.56x
Hitchin 1 10.08x
Lea Upper 1 909.09x
Luckington 1 270.27x
Mark Eaton 1 133.33x
Melcombe Regis 1 11.52x
Presteigne 1 61.35x
Shenfield 1 61.35x
St George In East London 1 3.33x
St Helier 1 3.25x
Tattenhall 1 83.33x
Walcot 1 3.66x
Warwick St Mary 1 14.33x
Warwick St Nicholas 1 16.95x
Whitechapel London 1 3.18x
Wimborne 1 39.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Ann 12
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 7
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Hannah 6
Martha 6
Emma 5
Jane 5
Maria 5
Catherine 4
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Annie 3
Clara 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Ida 2
Julia 2
Sophia 2
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Cathlen 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Georgiana 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Jessie 1
Judith 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
M.E.A. 1
Margret 1
Maryann 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
May 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 21
Thomas 15
Edward 13
George 10
James 10
Henry 9
Charles 7
Joseph 5
Robert 4
Albert 3
Isaac 3
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Aaron 1
Amos 1
Benjaman 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Hy. 1
Joab 1
Lionel 1
Michael 1
Parker 1
Samuel 1
Sarah 1
Sideney 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Kington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 325 people were recorded with the Kington surname. That placed it at #9,194 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 377 in 2016. That gives Kington a modern rank of #12,415.

What does the Kington surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "king's town" or "royal estate".

What does the Kington map show?

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