NameCensus.

UK surname

Kissack

An English surname derived from a Manx word meaning "place of ash trees".

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Kissack surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 209, ranked #19,009, up from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Rathven and Dalton-in-Furness. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, Rochdale and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kissack is 241 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 113.3%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

209

2016, ranked #19,009

Peak year

1999

241 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kissack had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016, ranked #19,009.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 185 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Kissack surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kissack surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kissack 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 43 #28,562
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 119 #21,415
1901 historical 185 #15,892
1911 historical 149 #17,937
1997 modern 224 #16,392
1998 modern 233 #16,459
1999 modern 241 #16,179
2000 modern 236 #16,380
2001 modern 228 #16,525
2002 modern 227 #16,877
2003 modern 213 #17,395
2004 modern 219 #17,180
2005 modern 214 #17,378
2006 modern 213 #17,563
2007 modern 214 #17,688
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 206 #18,657
2010 modern 215 #18,551
2011 modern 217 #18,271
2012 modern 207 #18,777
2013 modern 211 #18,872
2014 modern 217 #18,645
2015 modern 212 #18,842
2016 modern 209 #19,009

Geography

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Where Kissacks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Rathven, Dalton-in-Furness, West Derby and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, Rochdale, Rotherham and Enfield. 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 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 Rathven Banff
3 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 045 Bristol, City of
2 Rochdale 005 Rochdale
3 Rotherham 025 Rotherham
4 Bristol 044 Bristol, City of
5 Enfield 036 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kissack

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kissack

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

Small Town Suburbia

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kissack is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Kissack 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kissack

The surname Kissack originated from the Isle of Man, a small island located in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. The name is believed to have derived from an Old Norse word "kistuskáli," which translates to "chest shed" or "a shed for storage of chests or boxes." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname given to someone who worked in storage or had responsibilities related to keeping chests or boxes.

The earliest recorded mention of the Kissack surname dates back to the mid-16th century in the Isle of Man. One of the earliest known individuals bearing this name was John Kissack, who was born around 1570 in Braddan, a parish located on the eastern side of the island.

In the 17th century, the Kissack family had established roots in various parishes across the Isle of Man, including Braddan, Marown, and Santon. During this period, the name appeared in several local records and documents, often spelled as "Kistake," "Kistagh," or "Kistake."

The Manx Museum in Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man, houses some historical records and artifacts related to the Kissack family, providing insights into their lives and contributions to the island's history.

One notable figure from the Kissack family was William Kissack, born in 1795 in the parish of Braddan. He was a prominent businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the local community. Another individual of historical significance was John Kissack (1768-1834), a Manx poet and translator who played a vital role in preserving the island's cultural heritage.

In the 19th century, some members of the Kissack family migrated to other parts of the British Isles, as well as to North America and Australia, carrying their surname with them. One such individual was Robert Kissack (1838-1913), a Manx-born merchant who settled in Liverpool, England, and became a prominent figure in the local business community.

Another notable Kissack was William Kissack (1857-1938), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. He was born in the Isle of Man and later immigrated to Canada, where he made significant contributions to the political and economic landscape of the region.

It is worth noting that while the Kissack surname originated from the Isle of Man, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name residing in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kissack families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kissack 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. Isle of Man leads with 323 Kissacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 423.55x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 323 423.55x
Lancashire 62 1.27x
Banffshire 13 15.26x
Yorkshire 9 0.22x
Aberdeenshire 6 1.58x
Montgomeryshire 2 2.13x
Staffordshire 2 0.14x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.68x
Middlesex 1 0.02x
Northumberland 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 60 Kissacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 273.10x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 60 273.10x
Maughold 53 901.36x
Patrick 39 1048.39x
Jurby 29 3152.17x
Braddan 22 527.58x
Lezayre 19 555.56x
Bride 17 1634.62x
Everton 14 9.01x
German 14 336.54x
Michael 14 903.23x
St Anne 14 1707.32x
Andreas 12 579.71x
Marown 11 791.37x
Ormskirk 10 107.30x
Lonan 9 194.81x
West Derby 9 6.31x
Wiswell 9 865.38x
Fordyce 7 114.19x
Liverpool 7 2.37x
Huntly 6 96.93x
Rathven 6 37.50x
Rushen 6 116.28x
Cheetham 4 11.00x
Otley 4 40.49x
Dalton In Furness 2 10.63x
German Peel 2 45.56x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 7.63x
Kirkdale 2 2.44x
Leeds 2 0.87x
Newcastle Under Lyme 2 8.15x
North Meols 2 4.19x
Pool 2 28.17x
Blatchinworth 1 9.01x
Douglas 1 90.91x
Handsworth 1 9.29x
Kelton 1 20.49x
Liscard 1 6.12x
Malew 1 15.02x
St Pancras London 1 0.30x
Toxteth Park 1 0.61x
Wallsend 1 5.16x
Whittingham 1 46.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Margaret 20
Elizabeth 14
Ann 13
Annie 13
Jane 13
Catherine 11
Agnes 5
Eleanor 5
Eliza 5
Isabella 5
Catharine 4
Christian 4
Ellen 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Ellenor 3
Emily 3
Esther 3
Frances 3
Louisa 3
Clara 2
Edith 2
Elinor 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Helena 2
Margt. 2
Beatrice 1
Cath. 1
Cathrine 1
Charlotte 1
Eda 1
Eliz.C. 1
Elleanor 1
Emly 1
Enid 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Issabella 1
Jessie 1
Katherine 1
Lena 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mabal 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
John 31
Thomas 20
James 18
Robert 16
Edward 9
Wm. 7
Henry 6
Thos. 5
Richard 4
Charles 3
George 3
Wilfred 3
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Philip 2
Walter 2
A.D. 1
Alexander 1
Allen 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Danial 1
Enos 1
Evan 1
Frank 1
Harold 1
Humphrey 1
J.J. 1
Jabez 1
Jas. 1
Robt.C. 1
Samuel 1
Stanley 1
Thos.P. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Kissack surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kissack surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Kissack surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kissack surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 209 in 2016. That gives Kissack a modern rank of #19,009.

What does the Kissack surname mean?

An English surname derived from a Manx word meaning "place of ash trees".

What does the Kissack map show?

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