NameCensus.

UK surname

Kinning

A locative surname derived from a place name in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Kinning surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 95, ranked #31,782, down from #26,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Michael, Govan Combination and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Johnstone North West, Johnstone South West and Northampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kinning is 121 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.9%.

1881 census count

49

Ranked #26,735

Modern count

95

2016, ranked #31,782

Peak year

1861

121 bearers

Map years

1

1861 to 1861

Key insights

  • Kinning had 49 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016, ranked #31,782.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 121 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kinning surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kinning surname density by area, 1861 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kinning 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 44 #25,328
1861 historical 121 #18,148
1881 historical 49 #26,735
1891 historical 75 #27,414
1901 historical 40 #29,678
1911 historical 23 #30,923
1997 modern 87 #28,749
1998 modern 96 #28,188
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 92 #28,832
2001 modern 90 #28,793
2002 modern 87 #29,644
2003 modern 82 #30,206
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 95 #28,817
2006 modern 94 #29,264
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 95 #31,749
2016 modern 95 #31,782

Geography

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Where Kinnings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Michael, Govan Combination, St Pancras, Nottingham St Mary and Helmingstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Johnstone North West, Johnstone South West, Northampton, South Kesteven and Lochwinnoch. 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 Bristol City: St Michael Gloucestershire
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Helmingstone Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Johnstone North West Renfrewshire
2 Johnstone South West Renfrewshire
3 Northampton 010 Northampton
4 South Kesteven 009 South Kesteven
5 Lochwinnoch Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kinning

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kinning

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kinning is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Kinning is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kinning 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 Kinning is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kinning

The surname Kinning is believed to have originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "cyne" or "cyn," which means "royal" or "kingly." The name likely evolved from a nickname given to someone who had a regal or noble bearing or appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Kinning surname can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Kynnynge" in these rolls, indicating its use as a surname in Scotland during the 13th century.

In the 14th century, a reference to the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which record various financial transactions and payments made to individuals. The entry from 1375 mentions a "William Kynnyng" who received payment for services rendered to the Scottish crown.

The Kinning surname is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Kinning Park in Glasgow and Kinning House in East Lothian. These place names likely derived from the surname itself or were named after individuals bearing the Kinning name.

One notable individual with the Kinning surname was Robert Kinning (c. 1480-1550), a Scottish scholar and theologian who served as the rector of the University of St. Andrews in the early 16th century. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish Reformation and played a significant role in the spread of Protestant teachings in Scotland.

Another historical figure with the Kinning surname was John Kinning (c. 1560-1630), a Scottish minister and author who served as the minister of the Kirk of Perth. He wrote several religious works, including "A Catechisme, or Plaine Instruction," published in 1598.

In the 17th century, there was a notable politician named James Kinning (1620-1689), who served as a member of the Scottish Parliament and was a supporter of the Covenanter movement, which sought to preserve Presbyterian church governance in Scotland.

A more recent figure with the Kinning surname was William Kinning (1814-1891), a Scottish architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in Glasgow, including the City Chambers and the Western Infirmary.

The Kinning surname has also been associated with various notable families and clans in Scotland, such as the Clan Kinnear, which is believed to have ties to the Kinning lineage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kinning families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kinning 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. Lanarkshire leads with 21 Kinnings recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.32x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 21 13.32x
Northamptonshire 8 17.44x
Nottinghamshire 7 10.65x
Somerset 6 7.65x
Middlesex 5 1.03x
Kent 1 0.60x
Midlothian 1 1.53x
Royal Navy 1 17.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 13 Kinnings recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.33x.

Place Total Index
Govan 13 33.33x
Daventry 8 1230.77x
Hamilton 5 113.64x
Islington London 5 10.58x
South Brent 5 3846.15x
Bulwell 4 279.72x
Nottingham St Mary 3 17.65x
Rutherglen 2 86.58x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 64.52x
Glasgow 1 3.57x
Maidstone 1 20.16x
Royal Navy 1 20.12x
Weare 1 909.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Kesiah 1
Laura 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Thomas 2
Eliza 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Kinning households.

FAQ

Kinning surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kinning surname in 1881?

In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Kinning surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kinning surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016. That gives Kinning a modern rank of #31,782.

What does the Kinning surname mean?

A locative surname derived from a place name in Scotland.

What does the Kinning map show?

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