UK surname
A surname of Norwegian origin referring to a person with a prominent chin or jawline.
In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Kinn surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #30,872 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Lincoln St Botolph and Christ Church Spitalfields. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kinn is 134 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.5%.
1881 census count
19
Ranked #30,872
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1861
134 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kinn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kinn surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 30 | #27,891 |
| 1861 | historical | 134 | #16,754 |
| 1881 | historical | 19 | #30,872 |
| 1891 | historical | 49 | #30,349 |
| 1901 | historical | 37 | #30,009 |
| 1911 | historical | 18 | #31,542 |
| 1997 | modern | 23 | #35,484 |
| 1998 | modern | 26 | #35,254 |
| 1999 | modern | 28 | #35,127 |
| 2000 | modern | 27 | #35,188 |
| 2001 | modern | 29 | #34,839 |
| 2002 | modern | 36 | #34,480 |
| 2003 | modern | 39 | #34,296 |
| 2004 | modern | 37 | #34,640 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 33 | #35,461 |
| 2008 | modern | 33 | #35,556 |
| 2009 | modern | 30 | #35,871 |
| 2010 | modern | 33 | #35,794 |
| 2011 | modern | 34 | #35,705 |
| 2012 | modern | 37 | #35,531 |
| 2013 | modern | 38 | #35,534 |
| 2014 | modern | 36 | #35,662 |
| 2015 | modern | 37 | #35,593 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Lincoln St Botolph, Christ Church Spitalfields, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lancaster Borough | Lancashire |
| 2 | Lincoln St Botolph | Lincolnshire |
| 3 | Christ Church Spitalfields | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Dover St James, Dover St Mary | Kent |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kinn surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kinn, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Kinn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kinn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Kinn is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kinn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kinn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kinn is of Old Norse origin, deriving from the word "kinn" which means "cheek" or "jaw". It is believed to have originated in Norway and was initially used as a nickname for someone with a prominent or distinctive jawline.
In the early medieval period, the name appeared in various Norse sagas and chronicles, often referring to notable individuals with this physical trait. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Landnámabók, a medieval Icelandic manuscript detailing the settlement of Iceland, where a man named Kinn Arnorsson is mentioned.
As the name spread across Scandinavia, it underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Kinnr or Kinnari. In the Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there is a record of a landowner named Kinnard, which is likely a variant of the same surname.
During the Viking Age, the name was carried by Norse settlers and traders to various regions, including Iceland, Scotland, and parts of England. One notable bearer of the name was Kinn Þorsteinsson, an Icelandic chieftain and lawspeaker who lived in the 11th century.
In Scotland, the surname Kinn can be traced back to the 12th century, where it was often associated with the region of Caithness, an area with strong Norse influence. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Sweyn Kinn, a landholder in Caithness mentioned in a charter from around 1150.
Another prominent figure bearing the name was Sir William Kinn, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. He was granted lands in Perthshire for his loyalty and bravery.
As the name spread across Europe, it adopted various spellings and forms, such as Kinn, Kinne, Kinn-Hansen, and Kinnan. Notable individuals with this surname include Jens Kinn, a Norwegian poet and playwright born in 1816, and Helga Kinn, a Norwegian feminist and suffragette active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Despite its Scandinavian roots, the surname Kinn has been found in various parts of the world, likely due to migration and cultural exchange. It remains a relatively uncommon surname, but its rich history and etymology reflect the influence of Norse culture and language on naming traditions across Europe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kinn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hertfordshire leads with 6 Kinns recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hertfordshire | 6 | 49.59x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 18.19x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.96x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 1.14x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 7.66x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 2.26x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bushey in Hertfordshire leads with 6 Kinns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2068.97x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bushey | 6 | 2068.97x |
| Fairfield | 5 | 2777.78x |
| North Shields | 2 | 384.62x |
| Aston | 1 | 8.20x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 35.34x |
| Crumpsall | 1 | 204.08x |
| Enfield | 1 | 86.96x |
| Islington London | 1 | 5.88x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kinn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kinn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kinn households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| G E R Station Master | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Insurance Agent | 1 |
| Masons Labourer | 1 |
| Servant Dom | 1 |
| Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Station Master | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Kinn surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Kinn a modern rank of #35,648.
A surname of Norwegian origin referring to a person with a prominent chin or jawline.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kinn bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.