UK surname
An English surname derived from the Middle English word 'kin' meaning relative or kinsman.
In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Kins surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15, ranked #37,092, down from #30,464 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bedminster, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kins is 195 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.8%.
1881 census count
22
Ranked #30,464
Modern count
15
2016, ranked #37,092
Peak year
1861
195 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kins surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kins 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 | 53 | #23,739 |
| 1861 | historical | 195 | #12,263 |
| 1881 | historical | 22 | #30,464 |
| 1891 | historical | 91 | #25,239 |
| 1901 | historical | 34 | #30,281 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 8 | #37,481 |
| 2007 | modern | 8 | #37,572 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 15 | #37,092 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bedminster, St Pancras, Lambeth, St Marylebone and St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn. 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 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn | London (Central Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kins 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 Kins, 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 Kins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kins 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, Kins 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 Kins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname KINS has its origins in the medieval Low German region, which encompassed parts of modern-day Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. It is believed to have emerged around the 13th century as a diminutive form of the personal name Konrad or Conrad, which itself derives from the Old German words "kuon" (bold or brave) and "rad" (counsel).
One of the earliest recorded instances of the KINS surname can be found in the Bremisches Urkundenbuch, a collection of historical records from the city of Bremen, dating back to 1289. Here, a certain "Hinricus Kinsone" is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction. This suggests that the name had already taken on its patronymic form by this time.
In the Netherlands, the KINS surname can be traced back to at least the early 16th century. In the village of Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, a man named Pieter Kins is recorded as having lived there in 1533. This area, located in the western part of the country, is considered a stronghold for the KINS name even today.
The KINS surname has also been associated with various place names throughout its history. In the village of Kinsweiler, located in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the name is believed to have derived from the local toponym, which itself is thought to have originated from the Old German words "kuning" (king) and "wilari" (meadow).
Notable individuals with the KINS surname include Adriaen Matham (1599-1660), a Dutch Golden Age engraver and painter; Johann Philipp Kins (1714-1783), a German composer and organist; and Jacobus Kins (1628-1696), a Dutch painter known for his still-life works.
Other historical figures bearing the KINS name include Gottfried Kins (1684-1758), a German painter and etcher active in the Baroque period; and Pieter Kins (1553-1638), a Flemish Renaissance painter and draftsman who worked in Antwerp.
While the KINS surname may not be among the most common globally, it has left an indelible mark on the cultural and artistic landscapes of various European regions throughout history. Its enduring presence serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of surnames and their enduring connections to the past.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kins 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. Warwickshire leads with 4 Kins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.79x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 4 | 14.79x |
| Buckinghamshire | 2 | 30.86x |
| Devon | 1 | 4.48x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 4.55x |
| Kent | 1 | 2.73x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.93x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.91x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edgbaston in Warwickshire leads with 4 Kins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 476.19x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Edgbaston | 4 | 476.19x |
| Wycombe | 2 | 416.67x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 14.60x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 51.28x |
| Millbrook | 1 | 181.82x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 58.14x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 94.34x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kins 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 Kins 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 Kins households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Chairmaker | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Employing 11 Men 3 Boys Master Tailor | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Office Cleaner | 1 |
| Sternmann | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Kins surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 15 in 2016. That gives Kins a modern rank of #37,092.
An English surname derived from the Middle English word 'kin' meaning relative or kinsman.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kins 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.