NameCensus.

UK surname

Kinsella

An Irish surname derived from Ó Cinnsealaigh, meaning "descendant of Cinnsealaigh," a personal name of uncertain origin.

In the 1881 census there were 446 people recorded with the Kinsella surname, ranking it #7,361 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,278, ranked #2,070, up from #7,361 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kinsella is 3,349 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 635.0%.

1881 census count

446

Ranked #7,361

Modern count

3,278

2016, ranked #2,070

Peak year

2010

3,349 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kinsella had 446 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,361 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,278 in 2016, ranked #2,070.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 701 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Kinsella surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kinsella surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kinsella 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 96 #17,594
1861 historical 93 #22,009
1881 historical 446 #7,361
1891 historical 474 #7,746
1901 historical 665 #6,529
1911 historical 701 #6,076
1997 modern 2,845 #2,274
1998 modern 2,978 #2,265
1999 modern 3,034 #2,235
2000 modern 3,041 #2,212
2001 modern 2,994 #2,204
2002 modern 3,174 #2,118
2003 modern 3,106 #2,111
2004 modern 3,100 #2,118
2005 modern 3,067 #2,113
2006 modern 3,063 #2,112
2007 modern 3,120 #2,096
2008 modern 3,166 #2,086
2009 modern 3,241 #2,092
2010 modern 3,349 #2,080
2011 modern 3,305 #2,077
2012 modern 3,237 #2,082
2013 modern 3,280 #2,091
2014 modern 3,332 #2,071
2015 modern 3,287 #2,076
2016 modern 3,278 #2,070

Geography

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Where Kinsellas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, London parishes, Toxteth Park, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool and Pembrokeshire. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 006 Liverpool
2 Liverpool 022 Liverpool
3 Pembrokeshire 002 Pembrokeshire
4 Liverpool 009 Liverpool
5 Liverpool 014 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kinsella

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kinsella

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

Challenged Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Kinsella is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kinsella is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kinsella falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kinsella 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 Kinsella, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kinsella

The surname Kinsella is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Ó Cionsalach," which means "descendant of Cionsalach." Cionsalach was a personal name derived from the Old Irish word "cion," meaning affection or liking.

The name first appeared in the Irish annals around the 11th century, with early references to individuals bearing the name found in various medieval manuscripts and records from counties such as Wexford, Kilkenny, and Waterford.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, which mentions a "Muircheartach Ua Cionsalach" in the year 1031. This individual was likely a member of the Uí Cionsalach, a prominent family in the Leinster region of Ireland.

The Kinsella name is also associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Kinsellagh (a barony in County Wexford) and Kinsalebeg (a townland in County Waterford). These place names likely derived from the Kinsella surname, indicating areas where families with this name held significant influence or land.

Notable individuals with the surname Kinsella throughout history include:

1. Thomas Kinsella (1928-2021), an Irish poet, translator, and publisher, known for his works such as "Wormwood" and "The Táin."

2. John Kinsella (born 1963), an Australian poet and novelist, recipient of numerous literary awards, including the Prime Minister's Literary Award.

3. Aidan Kinsella (born 1977), an Irish hurler who played for the Kilkenny senior hurling team and won several All-Ireland medals.

4. Liam Kinsella (born 1932), an Irish politician who served as a member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1984.

5. John Kinsella (1858-1899), an Irish-American baseball player who played for several teams in the late 19th century, including the Philadelphia Phillies and the Baltimore Orioles.

The Kinsella surname continues to be predominantly found in Ireland, particularly in counties like Wexford and Waterford, where it has its historical roots. It is a name with a rich heritage, reflecting the genealogical and cultural significance of Irish surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kinsella families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kinsella 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. Lancashire leads with 228 Kinsellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.42x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 228 4.42x
Cheshire 48 5.00x
Cumberland 34 9.08x
Staffordshire 17 1.16x
Angus 16 3.97x
Middlesex 16 0.37x
Warwickshire 15 1.37x
Durham 9 0.70x
Dunbartonshire 7 5.99x
Glamorgan 7 0.92x
Gloucestershire 6 0.70x
Midlothian 6 1.03x
Clackmannanshire 5 13.92x
Derbyshire 5 0.73x
Yorkshire 5 0.12x
Roxburghshire 4 5.08x
Surrey 3 0.14x
Westmorland 3 3.14x
Lanarkshire 2 0.14x
Lincolnshire 2 0.29x
Monmouthshire 2 0.64x
Cornwall 1 0.20x
Essex 1 0.12x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Kent 1 0.07x
Leicestershire 1 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 88 Kinsellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.07x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 88 28.07x
Cleator 17 109.04x
Dundee 16 10.63x
Barrow In Furness 13 18.52x
Salford 13 8.56x
Dukinfield 12 27.04x
Monks Coppenhall 12 33.11x
Widnes 12 32.23x
Birmingham 11 3.01x
Everton 11 6.69x
West Derby 11 7.28x
Wavertree 9 54.48x
Windle 9 30.98x
Wolstanton 9 20.18x
Toxteth Park 8 4.58x
Wolsingham 8 67.80x
Arlecdon 7 70.28x
Chester St Oswald 7 40.25x
Hindley 7 31.80x
Macclesfield 7 16.40x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 5.32x
Birkenhead 6 7.84x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 2.56x
Hulme 6 5.57x
Kirkdale 6 6.91x
Old Kilpatrick 6 43.42x
Swansea Town 6 9.66x
Workington 6 27.97x
Blackley 5 55.25x
Clackmannan 5 73.64x
Little Bolton 5 7.53x
Paddington London 5 3.13x
Wednesbury 5 13.62x
Bristol St Augustine 4 29.05x
Derby St Alkmund 4 19.60x
Hawick 4 22.68x
Leeds 4 1.64x
Applethwaite 3 105.26x
Broughton In Salford 3 6.36x
Camberwell 3 1.08x
Coventry St Michael 3 8.51x
Harborne 3 6.37x
Kensington London 3 1.24x
Shoreditch London 3 1.59x
Wigan 3 4.16x
Chorley 2 6.90x
Egremont 2 22.40x
Govan 2 0.57x
Grantham 2 22.05x
Hackney London 2 0.82x
Newport 2 13.33x
Newton 2 5.03x
St Marylebone London 2 0.86x
Whiston 2 49.63x
Altarnun 1 58.48x
Alverstoke 1 3.10x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 2.44x
Bradford 1 0.96x
Bristol St Paul In 1 4.40x
Bury 1 1.70x
Cardiff St John 1 4.04x
Claughton With Grange 1 22.88x
Congleton 1 6.03x
Eastham 1 77.52x
Edgbaston 1 2.94x
Gorton 1 2.06x
Hougham 1 11.33x
Kemerton 1 136.99x
Manchester 1 0.43x
Nether Wasdale 1 357.14x
Ockbrook 1 34.60x
Prestbury 1 232.56x
Prestwich 1 7.76x
Radford Lenton 1 68.49x
Row 1 6.61x
St Bees 1 57.80x
Sutton 1 5.78x
Walton On Hill 1 3.58x
Westminster St Margaret 1 4.76x
Whitwick 1 16.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 49
Elizabeth 16
Margaret 15
Catherine 14
Sarah 12
Ann 9
Bridget 9
Eliza 9
Jane 9
Ellen 7
Kate 5
Maria 5
Alice 4
Julia 4
Agnes 3
Annie 3
Anne 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Hannah 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Teresa 2
Agness 1
Anna 1
Bgt. 1
Caroline 1
Elezebeth 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Florencia 1
Grace 1
Isabella 1
Josephine 1
Lizzie 1
Marcella 1
Margeret 1
Margerett 1
Margt. 1
Marian 1
Marriatt 1
Mgt. 1
Minnie 1
Thomas 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 38
James 26
Thomas 17
Patrick 16
William 14
Edward 9
Michael 8
Peter 8
George 6
Arthur 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Andrew 3
Charles 3
Christopher 3
Dennis 2
Jas.Hy. 2
Lawrence 2
Paul 2
Phillip 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Bernard 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Eugine 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Laurence 1
Milo 1
Nicholas 1
Philip 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Kinsella surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kinsella surname in 1881?

In 1881, 446 people were recorded with the Kinsella surname. That placed it at #7,361 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kinsella surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,278 in 2016. That gives Kinsella a modern rank of #2,070.

What does the Kinsella surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from Ó Cinnsealaigh, meaning "descendant of Cinnsealaigh," a personal name of uncertain origin.

What does the Kinsella map show?

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