NameCensus.

UK surname

Kinsey

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the king's victory" or "royal victory."

In the 1881 census there were 1,960 people recorded with the Kinsey surname, ranking it #2,237 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,783, ranked #2,424, down from #2,237 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton and Stockport. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kinsey is 2,976 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.0%.

1881 census count

1,960

Ranked #2,237

Modern count

2,783

2016, ranked #2,424

Peak year

2000

2,976 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kinsey had 1,960 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,237 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,783 in 2016, ranked #2,424.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,551 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Kinsey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kinsey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kinsey 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 1,250 #2,283
1861 historical 1,141 #2,461
1881 historical 1,960 #2,237
1891 historical 1,845 #2,490
1901 historical 2,369 #2,292
1911 historical 2,551 #2,005
1997 modern 2,748 #2,335
1998 modern 2,918 #2,309
1999 modern 2,975 #2,282
2000 modern 2,976 #2,261
2001 modern 2,896 #2,276
2002 modern 2,950 #2,282
2003 modern 2,876 #2,287
2004 modern 2,893 #2,275
2005 modern 2,830 #2,295
2006 modern 2,824 #2,301
2007 modern 2,859 #2,293
2008 modern 2,871 #2,307
2009 modern 2,974 #2,272
2010 modern 2,973 #2,319
2011 modern 2,933 #2,320
2012 modern 2,856 #2,334
2013 modern 2,886 #2,354
2014 modern 2,866 #2,382
2015 modern 2,820 #2,400
2016 modern 2,783 #2,424

Geography

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Where Kinseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton, Stockport, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
3 Stockport Cheshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 008 Bridgend
2 Bridgend 010 Bridgend
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 011 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 014 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Caerphilly 010 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kinsey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kinsey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kinsey, 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 Kinsey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kinsey 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Kinsey is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kinsey is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kinsey falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kinsey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kinsey

The surname Kinsey is of English origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cyne" meaning "royal" and "sige" meaning "victory," suggesting that it may have been a name given to someone who achieved a victory for royalty.

The name Kinsey is closely associated with the county of Nottinghamshire in England, where it was particularly prevalent in the medieval period. The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Kynesey."

Several historical records mention individuals with the surname Kinsey, including the Subsidy Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1327, which list a Robert de Kynesey. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332 also reference a John Kynesey from the same region.

In the 16th century, the name Kinsey appears to have been associated with various locations in Nottinghamshire, such as Kinsey Park and Kinsey Farm, suggesting a connection between the surname and these place names.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Kinsey was Sir John Kinsey (c. 1615-1661), an English politician and landowner from Nottinghamshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for the county during the English Civil War.

Another prominent figure was Robert Kinsey (1735-1805), an American politician and judge who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

In the 19th century, Alfred Kinsey (1894-1956) achieved fame as an American biologist and sexologist. He is best known for his groundbreaking research on human sexuality, including the Kinsey Reports published in 1948 and 1953.

Other notable individuals with the surname Kinsey include:

- Edmund Kinsey (1618-1700), an English clergyman and author. - Joseph Kinsey Howard (1794-1869), an American lawyer and politician from Indiana. - Darius Kinsey (1869-1945), an American artist and illustrator known for his portraits and landscapes.

While the surname Kinsey originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kinsey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kinsey 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 335 Kinseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.48x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 335 1.48x
Cheshire 323 7.65x
Staffordshire 209 3.24x
Glamorgan 143 4.29x
Shropshire 112 6.78x
Middlesex 92 0.48x
Montgomeryshire 83 18.93x
Leicestershire 77 3.63x
Suffolk 61 2.62x
Monmouthshire 60 4.34x
Radnorshire 59 38.23x
Surrey 53 0.57x
Brecknockshire 43 11.24x
Yorkshire 42 0.22x
Derbyshire 34 1.14x
Gloucestershire 27 0.72x
Herefordshire 26 3.31x
Warwickshire 23 0.48x
Sussex 22 0.68x
Hampshire 19 0.48x
Essex 16 0.42x
Worcestershire 16 0.64x
Hertfordshire 12 0.91x
Cambridgeshire 11 0.91x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.43x
Lanarkshire 8 0.13x
Isle of Man 6 1.69x
Kent 6 0.09x
Flintshire 5 0.97x
Lincolnshire 5 0.16x
Cumberland 4 0.24x
Somerset 4 0.13x
Bedfordshire 2 0.20x
Dorset 2 0.16x
Merionethshire 2 0.57x
Berkshire 1 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.13x
Cardiganshire 1 0.21x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.12x
Denbighshire 1 0.14x
Durham 1 0.02x
Royal Navy 1 0.44x
Wiltshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ystradyfodwg in Glamorgan leads with 52 Kinseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.80x.

Place Total Index
Ystradyfodwg 52 17.80x
Warrington 39 14.49x
Bilston 37 29.57x
Manchester 36 3.53x
Tattenhall 30 417.83x
Trevethin 23 17.61x
Salford 21 3.15x
Hintlesham 20 536.19x
Lambeth 20 1.20x
Everton 19 2.63x
Merthyr Tydfil 19 5.93x
Stoke Upon Trent 19 2.77x
Toxteth Park 19 2.47x
Widnes 19 11.61x
Burslem 18 9.73x
Cheadle 18 22.32x
Hugglescote 18 57.69x
Kerry 18 136.57x
Leek Lowe 18 20.95x
Stowe 18 1084.34x
Stretford 18 14.41x
Altrincham 17 23.04x
Breedon 17 362.47x
Gelligaer 17 22.35x
Heaton Norris 17 13.16x
Llandinam 17 167.65x
Wolverhampton 17 3.42x
Bedwellty 16 6.55x
Congleton 16 21.93x
Birmingham 15 0.93x
Northen Etchells 15 303.03x
Pendlebury 15 31.30x
Runcorn 15 15.41x
Sale 15 28.96x
Islington London 14 0.76x
Llanidloes 14 43.09x
Ashton Under Lyne 13 2.62x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 13 18.94x
Stockport 13 5.98x
West Ham 13 1.56x
Whitton 13 1214.95x
Didsbury 12 39.81x
Gorton 12 5.62x
Hulme 12 2.53x
Llanbister 12 224.72x
Stone 12 14.53x
Burwardsley 11 376.71x
Liverpool 11 0.80x
Llangeinor 11 56.09x
St Pancras London 11 0.71x
Stafford St Mary 11 12.04x
Brecknock St John 10 31.00x
Fulham London 10 3.60x
Lilleshall 10 39.59x
Llanfabon 10 57.41x
Normanton 10 17.56x
Portsea 10 1.30x
Cheetham 9 5.32x
Church Gresley 9 18.89x
Dudley 9 2.96x
Dutton 9 304.05x
Essington 9 105.76x
Hay 9 63.34x
Kensington London 9 0.85x
Leintwardine 9 112.64x
Merton 9 55.18x
Nether Seal 9 241.29x
Tipton 9 4.55x
Worthen Hope 9 257.14x
Wrockwardine 9 24.77x
Baguley 8 165.98x
Cardiff St Mary 8 4.36x
Hunslet 8 2.71x
Knutsford Nether 8 31.35x
Llanover 8 16.94x
Marbury 8 4705.88x
N Lydbury 8 124.61x
Newtown 8 28.54x
Old Newton 8 178.17x
Stanton 8 144.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 154
Sarah 84
Elizabeth 71
Ann 43
Jane 41
Annie 33
Eliza 31
Margaret 29
Ellen 25
Emma 23
Harriet 21
Martha 21
Alice 20
Hannah 19
Emily 17
Anne 15
Catherine 13
Charlotte 12
Edith 11
Louisa 11
Florence 10
Ada 9
Maria 9
Agnes 8
Fanny 8
Lucy 8
Amelia 7
Caroline 7
Elizth. 6
Rebecca 6
Susan 6
Amy 5
Clara 5
Grace 5
Harriett 5
Rosa 5
Beatrice 4
Frances 4
Lydia 4
Margret 4
Eleanor 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Henrietta 3
Kate 3
Lizzie 3
Maud 3
May 3
Phoebe 3
Sophia 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 129
William 117
Thomas 83
George 59
James 57
Joseph 34
Edward 31
Henry 26
Samuel 24
David 23
Arthur 22
Evan 21
Charles 19
Richard 18
Peter 17
Harry 14
Frederick 12
Walter 11
Francis 10
Wm. 10
Albert 9
Alfred 8
Herbert 8
Robert 8
Daniel 6
Enoch 6
Thos. 6
Edwin 5
Frank 5
Josiah 5
Simon 5
Stephen 5
Benjamin 4
Reginald 4
Christopher 3
Edmund 3
Ernest 3
Frederic 3
Isaac 3
Jeremiah 3
Lewis 3
Mark 3
Matthew 3
Owen 3
Dennis 2
Noah 2
Oliver 2
Percy 2
Pryce 2
Reuben 2

FAQ

Kinsey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kinsey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,960 people were recorded with the Kinsey surname. That placed it at #2,237 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kinsey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,783 in 2016. That gives Kinsey a modern rank of #2,424.

What does the Kinsey surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the king's victory" or "royal victory."

What does the Kinsey map show?

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