NameCensus.

UK surname

Kippen

A surname from a place name or topographic name referring to a low rounded hill or hillock.

In the 1881 census there were 229 people recorded with the Kippen surname, ranking it #11,784 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 274, ranked #15,759, down from #11,784 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Crieff. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee, Blairgowrie West and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kippen is 278 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.7%.

1881 census count

229

Ranked #11,784

Modern count

274

2016, ranked #15,759

Peak year

2005

278 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kippen had 229 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,784 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016, ranked #15,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 244 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Kippen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kippen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kippen 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 160 #12,347
1861 historical 197 #12,166
1881 historical 229 #11,784
1891 historical 244 #12,983
1901 historical 238 #13,528
1911 historical 96 #23,193
1997 modern 269 #14,543
1998 modern 260 #15,291
1999 modern 258 #15,467
2000 modern 251 #15,692
2001 modern 243 #15,791
2002 modern 258 #15,485
2003 modern 251 #15,563
2004 modern 253 #15,583
2005 modern 278 #14,511
2006 modern 269 #14,952
2007 modern 273 #14,959
2008 modern 273 #15,113
2009 modern 270 #15,551
2010 modern 277 #15,595
2011 modern 272 #15,653
2012 modern 262 #16,001
2013 modern 266 #16,098
2014 modern 273 #15,914
2015 modern 273 #15,789
2016 modern 274 #15,759

Geography

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Where Kippens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Crieff and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee, Blairgowrie West, Mid Suffolk, Stanley and Murthly and Central and South Inch. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Crieff Perth
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blair Atholl, Strathardle and Glenshee Perth and Kinross
2 Blairgowrie West Perth and Kinross
3 Mid Suffolk 004 Mid Suffolk
4 Stanley and Murthly Perth and Kinross
5 Central and South Inch Perth and Kinross

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kippen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kippen

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Kippen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Kippen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Kippen 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

Kippen 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

Kippen falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kippen

The surname Kippen is of Scottish origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the lands of Kippen, a parish in the district of Stirlingshire, located near the town of Dunblane. The name itself likely derives from the Gaelic words "ceap" or "cepan," meaning a plot or a small piece of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kippen can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document that contains the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence. This suggests that the Kippen family had already established itself as landowners in the region by the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the Kippen name appeared in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, a record of official documents issued by the Scottish monarchy. This reference further solidifies the family's presence and prominence in the region during that time.

Notable individuals who bore the Kippen surname include:

1. William Kippen (c. 1600 - c. 1670), a Scottish minister and author who served as the minister of the parish of Kippen from 1633 until his death.

2. James Kippen (1723 - 1790), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the city of Glasgow during the 18th century.

3. Robert Kippen (1775 - 1851), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Calton Hill Observatory.

4. Margaret Kippen (1836 - 1916), a Scottish philanthropist and social reformer who founded several charitable organizations aimed at improving the lives of women and children in Glasgow.

5. Alexander Kippen (1880 - 1958), a Scottish engineer and inventor who held numerous patents for various mechanical devices and contributed significantly to the development of early aviation technology.

The name Kippen has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Kippen Muir, Kippen Hill, and Kippen Village, all of which are located in the vicinity of the original parish of Kippen. Additionally, variations in spelling, such as Kippane and Kippane, have been recorded throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kippen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kippen 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. Perthshire leads with 74 Kippens recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.49x.

County Total Index
Perthshire 74 73.49x
Lanarkshire 23 3.17x
Midlothian 23 7.65x
Surrey 19 1.74x
Ayrshire 16 9.53x
Middlesex 15 0.67x
Clackmannanshire 10 53.97x
Essex 10 2.26x
Norfolk 10 2.90x
Fife 8 6.02x
Suffolk 4 1.46x
Warwickshire 3 0.53x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.47x
Dunbartonshire 2 3.32x
East Lothian 2 6.73x
Royal Navy 2 7.48x
Angus 1 0.48x
Durham 1 0.15x
Glamorgan 1 0.26x
Gloucestershire 1 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.33x
Renfrewshire 1 0.58x
Stirlingshire 1 1.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crieff in Perthshire leads with 25 Kippens recorded in 1881 and an index of 668.45x.

Place Total Index
Crieff 25 668.45x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 18 14.89x
Glasgow 17 13.19x
Lambeth 14 7.16x
Alloa 10 111.23x
West Ham 10 10.23x
Kilmarnock 9 45.05x
Logierait 9 508.47x
Hammersmith London 8 14.47x
Kilmaurs 7 244.76x
Perth West Church 7 146.44x
Auchterderran 6 179.64x
Filby 6 1333.33x
Kenmore 6 500.00x
Scone 6 335.20x
Dull 5 247.52x
Belton 4 833.33x
Kensington London 4 3.21x
Barony 3 1.63x
Comrie 3 208.33x
Epsom 3 56.29x
Fortingall 3 232.56x
Aberlady 2 259.74x
Arrochar 2 500.00x
Auchtergaven 2 118.34x
Birmingham 2 1.06x
Caputh 2 126.58x
Duddingston 2 33.17x
Hamilton 2 9.88x
Islington London 2 0.92x
Royal Navy 2 8.75x
West Winch 2 645.16x
Abbotshall 1 20.16x
Ardoch 1 117.65x
Beddington 1 23.64x
Clifton 1 4.49x
Corstorphine 1 60.24x
Denny 1 22.73x
Dundee 1 1.29x
Dunkeld 1 357.14x
East Retford 1 38.17x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 16.03x
Fowlis Wester 1 116.28x
Govan 1 0.56x
Horsey 1 666.67x
Inverkip 1 24.39x
Kinclaven 1 217.39x
Logie 1 27.70x
Paddington London 1 1.21x
Redgorton 1 89.29x
Roath 1 5.64x
Rotherhithe 1 3.61x
Slapton 1 500.00x
South Leith 1 2.96x
St Andrews 1 16.56x
Stretton On Dunsmore 1 192.31x
Thrigby 1 1428.57x
Water Eaton 1 526.32x
Whitworth 1 20.45x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
George 3
James 3
John 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Fredk. 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Chas.J. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jas.T. 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 Kippen households.

FAQ

Kippen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kippen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 229 people were recorded with the Kippen surname. That placed it at #11,784 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kippen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016. That gives Kippen a modern rank of #15,759.

What does the Kippen surname mean?

A surname from a place name or topographic name referring to a low rounded hill or hillock.

What does the Kippen map show?

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