NameCensus.

UK surname

Kipling

An English surname derived from a Saxon settlement name meaning "settlement of Cypel's people".

In the 1881 census there were 714 people recorded with the Kipling surname, ranking it #5,094 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,054, ranked #5,534, down from #5,094 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Eden and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kipling is 1,082 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.6%.

1881 census count

714

Ranked #5,094

Modern count

1,054

2016, ranked #5,534

Peak year

2011

1,082 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kipling had 714 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,094 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,054 in 2016, ranked #5,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,006 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Kipling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kipling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kipling 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 453 #5,441
1861 historical 435 #5,918
1881 historical 714 #5,094
1891 historical 660 #5,891
1901 historical 856 #5,331
1911 historical 1,006 #4,522
1997 modern 1,041 #5,316
1998 modern 1,060 #5,406
1999 modern 1,059 #5,445
2000 modern 1,034 #5,532
2001 modern 993 #5,606
2002 modern 1,030 #5,565
2003 modern 1,022 #5,500
2004 modern 1,035 #5,456
2005 modern 1,003 #5,532
2006 modern 998 #5,576
2007 modern 1,011 #5,554
2008 modern 1,024 #5,540
2009 modern 1,061 #5,497
2010 modern 1,076 #5,534
2011 modern 1,082 #5,450
2012 modern 1,062 #5,444
2013 modern 1,063 #5,538
2014 modern 1,077 #5,514
2015 modern 1,066 #5,504
2016 modern 1,054 #5,534

Geography

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Where Kiplings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington, Auckland St Andrew, Bradford and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Eden and Scarborough. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Darlington Durham
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 024 County Durham
2 Eden 006 Eden
3 Scarborough 003 Scarborough
4 County Durham 055 County Durham
5 Scarborough 001 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kipling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kipling

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Kipling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kipling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kipling is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kipling is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kipling 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 Kipling 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 Kipling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kipling

The surname Kipling originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "cyp" meaning a mound or hillock, and "ling" meaning a heather-covered area. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a mound or hill covered in heather.

The earliest recorded instance of the Kipling name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Cipelin" in Yorkshire. Over time, variations such as Kipeling, Kippeling, and Kiplin emerged before the modern spelling of Kipling became standardized.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Kipling, a Member of Parliament for Ripon in 1325. In the 15th century, the Kipling family held lands in Westmorland and Yorkshire, with several members serving as sheriffs and justices of the peace.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the Kipling surname was Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), the celebrated English novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was born in Bombay, British India, and is best known for works such as "The Jungle Book," "Kim," and "If." Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907.

Other notable individuals with the Kipling surname include:

Thomas Kipling (1629-1696), an English clergyman and author. Benjamin Kipling (1663-1718), an English physician and writer. John Kipling (1837-1911), an English sculptor and art teacher. John Kipling (1892-1915), the son of Rudyard Kipling who was killed in World War I at the age of 18.

The name Kipling has been widely dispersed throughout England, with concentrations in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and the surrounding areas. It remains a relatively common surname in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kipling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kipling 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. Yorkshire leads with 274 Kiplings recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.97x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 274 3.97x
Durham 211 10.18x
Middlesex 61 0.88x
Surrey 28 0.83x
Nottinghamshire 26 2.77x
Westmorland 25 16.33x
Northumberland 23 2.22x
Lancashire 21 0.25x
Hertfordshire 13 2.71x
Kent 9 0.38x
Derbyshire 7 0.64x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.95x
Lanarkshire 3 0.13x
Northamptonshire 3 0.46x
Sussex 2 0.17x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Devon 1 0.07x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Hampshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cotherston in Yorkshire leads with 41 Kiplings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2679.74x.

Place Total Index
Cotherston 41 2679.74x
Darlington 38 47.50x
Bradford 18 10.77x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 16 698.69x
Shoreditch London 16 5.30x
Stockton On Tees 15 15.02x
Coundon 14 166.67x
Monkwearmouth Shore 13 32.14x
West Auckland 13 171.50x
Clapham 11 12.63x
Elswick 11 13.30x
Gilling 11 528.85x
Leeds 11 2.82x
Wolsingham 11 58.26x
Pollards Land 10 684.93x
Ripon 10 62.46x
Sheffield 10 4.55x
Bishop Auckland 9 32.37x
Hackney London 9 2.30x
Longbenton 9 20.51x
Asby 8 677.97x
Bethnal Green London 8 2.64x
Bowes 8 500.00x
Bowling 8 11.70x
Brandon Byshottles 8 30.82x
Chatham 8 12.24x
Cornforth 8 131.15x
Croydon 8 4.25x
Everton 8 512.82x
Hartlepool 8 27.16x
Holy Trinity 8 4.82x
Kaber 8 1666.67x
Romaldkirk 8 1212.12x
St Alban Wood Street 8 1904.76x
Arkengarthdale 7 291.67x
Eckington 7 26.43x
Long Newton 7 1014.49x
Manchester 7 1.88x
Ware 7 50.87x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 9.33x
Evenwood Barony 6 85.11x
Melmerby In Ripon 6 821.92x
Whitby 6 25.80x
Whitworth 6 39.55x
Barrow In Furness 5 4.45x
Brightside Bierlow 5 3.69x
Camberwell 5 1.12x
Ordsall 5 69.54x
Sawley In Ripon 5 561.80x
Staindrop 5 159.24x
Tudhoe 5 27.58x
Barton 4 325.20x
Bramley In Bramley 4 15.14x
Dalton In Furness 4 12.54x
Fylingdales 4 116.28x
Gilmonby 4 1538.46x
Hooton Roberts 4 714.29x
Normanby In 4 21.68x
Paddington London 4 1.56x
Skeeby 4 1052.63x
Sunderland 4 10.93x
Wales 4 73.39x
Aylesbury 3 16.08x
Eggleston 3 168.54x
Eskdaleside 3 88.50x
Flintham 3 329.67x
Kensington London 3 0.77x
Long Buckby 3 49.51x
Lunedale 3 326.09x
Nether Graveship 3 205.48x
Netherthong 3 134.53x
New Malton 3 36.36x
Scaftworth 3 1200.00x
Seacroft 3 91.74x
Skipton 3 13.81x
St Giles 3 23.20x
St Luke London 3 2.69x
Stoke Newington London 3 5.53x
Stranton 3 4.30x
Winton 3 500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 55
Elizabeth 35
Sarah 29
Jane 25
Margaret 21
Ann 16
Annie 11
Martha 10
Ellen 8
Hannah 8
Alice 7
Esther 6
Isabella 6
Maria 6
Ada 5
Eleanor 4
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Rebecca 4
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Ethel 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Betty 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Christiana 2
Edith 2
Julia 2
Louisa 2
Matilda 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Blanche 1
Elenor 1
Emely 1
Fanny 1
Jemima 1
Joannah 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Lucia 1
Magaret 1
Tn. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 63
William 49
George 29
Thomas 29
Joseph 24
Robert 17
Henry 15
James 15
Charles 12
Arthur 9
Wm. 7
Francis 6
Richard 6
Christopher 5
Edward 5
Jonathan 5
Lionel 5
Alfred 4
Benjamin 4
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Matthew 3
Walter 3
Ebenezer 2
Mark 2
Mathew 2
Nathan 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Tobias 2
Almond 1
Benjiman 1
C.G.L. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Geo.Henry 1
Gilbert 1
Haratio 1
Harold 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Luke 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Wm.P. 1

FAQ

Kipling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kipling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 714 people were recorded with the Kipling surname. That placed it at #5,094 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kipling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,054 in 2016. That gives Kipling a modern rank of #5,534.

What does the Kipling surname mean?

An English surname derived from a Saxon settlement name meaning "settlement of Cypel's people".

What does the Kipling map show?

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