NameCensus.

UK surname

Kinley

From the Old English "cȳne" meaning "royal" and "lēah" meaning "meadow" or "woodland clearing," referring to a royal forest.

In the 1881 census there were 209 people recorded with the Kinley surname, ranking it #12,475 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 278, ranked #15,579, down from #12,475 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Manchester and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Christchurch, South Lakeland and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kinley is 311 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.0%.

1881 census count

209

Ranked #12,475

Modern count

278

2016, ranked #15,579

Peak year

1999

311 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kinley had 209 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,475 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016, ranked #15,579.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 276 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Kinley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kinley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kinley 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 130 #14,314
1861 historical 242 #10,154
1881 historical 209 #12,475
1891 historical 276 #11,810
1901 historical 207 #14,803
1911 historical 266 #12,395
1997 modern 306 #13,353
1998 modern 308 #13,661
1999 modern 311 #13,642
2000 modern 296 #14,044
2001 modern 282 #14,294
2002 modern 293 #14,203
2003 modern 263 #15,109
2004 modern 265 #15,110
2005 modern 258 #15,323
2006 modern 272 #14,834
2007 modern 267 #15,225
2008 modern 273 #15,113
2009 modern 292 #14,700
2010 modern 307 #14,485
2011 modern 280 #15,310
2012 modern 290 #14,838
2013 modern 302 #14,690
2014 modern 294 #15,047
2015 modern 291 #15,078
2016 modern 278 #15,579

Geography

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Where Kinleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Manchester, Batley, Childwall and Kendal. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Christchurch, South Lakeland and Wigan. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Childwall Lancashire
5 Kendal Westmorland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Christchurch 003 Christchurch
2 South Lakeland 005 South Lakeland
3 South Lakeland 004 South Lakeland
4 South Lakeland 014 South Lakeland
5 Wigan 007 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kinley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kinley

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Kinley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kinley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Kinley is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kinley 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

Kinley falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kinley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kinley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kinley

The surname Kinley is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "cyn" meaning "royal" or "noble" and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing. The name likely referred to someone who lived in a meadow or clearing owned by a noble or member of royalty.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a William de Kynlay is mentioned. The spelling "Kynlay" suggests the name was originally pronounced with a long "a" sound.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Kineleye, Kynley, and Kynlay in records from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. This indicates the name was present in different regions of England during this period.

The Kinley surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landowners and tenants in England. This suggests the name has its origins in the 11th century or earlier.

Notable historical figures with the Kinley surname include:

1. Sir John Kinley (c.1470-1536), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII.

2. Thomas Kinley (c.1550-1620), an English clergyman and author of theological works.

3. William Kinley (1628-1696), an English Puritan minister and author of religious texts.

4. Robert Kinley (1718-1789), a Scottish merchant and landowner who made significant contributions to the development of Glasgow.

5. Jane Kinley (1810-1892), an English artist and painter known for her landscapes and portraits.

The name Kinley is also associated with various place names in England, such as Kinley Green in Buckinghamshire and Kinley Wood in Oxfordshire, further cementing its historical roots in these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kinley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kinley 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. Isle of Man leads with 136 Kinleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 216.98x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 136 216.98x
Lancashire 75 1.87x
Yorkshire 38 1.14x
Durham 18 1.79x
Staffordshire 15 1.32x
Middlesex 10 0.30x
Essex 8 1.20x
Angus 7 2.24x
Westmorland 7 9.44x
Worcestershire 7 1.59x
Cheshire 5 0.67x
Lanarkshire 5 0.46x
Lincolnshire 5 0.93x
Warwickshire 4 0.47x
Berkshire 1 0.39x
Cumberland 1 0.34x
Glamorgan 1 0.17x
Kent 1 0.09x
Midlothian 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rushen in Isle of Man leads with 45 Kinleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1061.32x.

Place Total Index
Rushen 45 1061.32x
German Peel 30 831.02x
Onchan 21 116.34x
Everton 18 14.10x
Leeds 14 7.41x
German 11 321.64x
Tamworth 11 180.62x
Liverpool 10 4.11x
Wavertree 10 78.00x
Baildon 9 142.86x
Bishopwearmouth 9 10.44x
Michael 9 708.66x
West Ham 8 5.44x
Montrose 7 36.94x
St Anne 7 1044.78x
Arbory 6 437.96x
Heap 6 28.25x
Kendal 6 44.18x
St Pancras London 6 2.21x
Barrow On Humber 5 159.74x
Dewsbury 5 14.58x
Monks Coppenhall 5 17.79x
Oldham 5 3.87x
Usworth 5 93.81x
Aston 4 1.71x
Bradford 4 21.33x
Glasgow 4 2.06x
Hunslet 4 7.67x
Over Darwen 4 12.50x
Sunderland 4 22.56x
Tutnall Cobley 4 689.66x
Dudley 3 5.60x
Lezayre 3 106.76x
Toxteth Park 3 2.21x
Trawden 3 119.52x
Bradford 2 2.47x
Caverswall 2 33.78x
Garston 2 16.92x
Lancaster 2 8.39x
Lonan 2 52.63x
Manchester 2 1.11x
Wolstanton 2 5.78x
Ackworth 1 38.91x
Appleby St Lawrence 1 59.17x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.14x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.68x
Blackburn 1 0.94x
Braddan 1 29.24x
Clewer 1 9.63x
Crumpsall 1 10.59x
Eccleshill 1 12.29x
Farnworth 1 4.17x
Ince In Makerfield 1 5.37x
Inveresk 1 8.17x
Llansamlet Lower 1 18.80x
Maryhill 1 4.68x
Maughold 1 20.66x
Minster In Sheppey 1 5.24x
Osbaldwick 1 526.32x
Poplar London 1 1.57x
Salford 1 0.85x
St Marylebone London 1 0.55x
Whitehaven 1 6.46x
Willesden 1 3.14x
York St Cuthbert 1 32.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 35
William 17
Thomas 15
Edward 10
George 10
Robert 9
James 7
Charles 5
Joseph 5
Arthur 4
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Andrew 2
Calvin 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Peter 2
Phillip 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Adam 1
Cleave 1
Douglas 1
Evan 1
Fowler 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jno. 1
Matthew 1
Patrick 1
Paul 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Richey 1
Septimus 1
Steven 1
Thompson 1

FAQ

Kinley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kinley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 209 people were recorded with the Kinley surname. That placed it at #12,475 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kinley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016. That gives Kinley a modern rank of #15,579.

What does the Kinley surname mean?

From the Old English "cȳne" meaning "royal" and "lēah" meaning "meadow" or "woodland clearing," referring to a royal forest.

What does the Kinley map show?

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