NameCensus.

UK surname

Kissock

A locational surname originating from a place called "Kissock" in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 121 people recorded with the Kissock surname, ranking it #17,671 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #17,671 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kelton, Crossmichael and Rerrick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hyndburn, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Chelmsford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kissock is 152 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.2%.

1881 census count

121

Ranked #17,671

Modern count

99

2016, ranked #31,358

Peak year

1901

152 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 1901

Key insights

  • • Kissock had 121 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,671 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016, ranked #31,358.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 152 in 1901.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Map

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Kissock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kissock surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kissock 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 121 #17,671
1891 historical 133 #19,870
1901 historical 152 #17,916
1911 historical 49 #27,894
1997 modern 76 #29,997
1998 modern 79 #30,080
1999 modern 78 #30,327
2000 modern 85 #29,598
2001 modern 85 #29,396
2002 modern 95 #28,666
2003 modern 88 #29,506
2004 modern 87 #29,897
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 93 #29,411
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 87 #30,999
2009 modern 94 #30,538
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 96 #30,721
2012 modern 91 #31,659
2013 modern 93 #31,785
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 99 #31,358

Geography

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Where Kissocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kelton, Crossmichael, Rerrick, Govan Combination and Kirkpatrick-Irongray. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hyndburn, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Chelmsford, Dunblane East and Knowsley. 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 Kelton Kirkcudbright
2 Crossmichael Kirkcudbright
3 Rerrick Kirkcudbright
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Kirkpatrick-Irongray Kirkcudbright

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hyndburn 002 Hyndburn
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 Chelmsford 001 Chelmsford
4 Dunblane East Stirling
5 Knowsley 004 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kissock

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

Historical female names

Mary Margaret Elizabeth Ann Janet Agnes Jane Sarah Jessie Helen

Historical male names

John James William David Robert Thomas Alexander Joseph Samuel Andrew

Recent female names

Sarah Sheila Joanne Fiona Melanie Claire Lorraine Anne Rachel Flora

Recent male names

John David James Andrew Thomas George Paul Steven Neil Harold

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kissock

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Kissock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kissock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Kissock is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kissock 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

Kissock falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Origin

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Meaning and origin of Kissock

The surname Kissock originates from Scotland, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic "Ciosog," an affectionate diminutive form of "Ceallach." The original areas where the name was commonly found include the Lowlands, particularly in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.

The surname Kissock is relatively rare and does not appear in many early records or manuscripts. Despite this, its closest variants can be found in several old Scottish documents. For example, a reference to a "John Kysoch" appears in a land charter dated 1456 in Ayrshire, indicating the early presence of the name in this area.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name was by Robert Kissock, born around 1520 in Ayrshire. He is noted in a 1548 tax record, where he appears as a landholder. This suggests the family held a certain status within the local community. Another significant historical figure with this surname is Alexander Kissock, a tenant farmer recorded in Lanarkshire circa 1610.

Several centuries later, the name continued to appear in historical records. William Kissock, born in 1805, was a notable figure during the early 19th century. He played a role in the industrial developments of Lanarkshire and is mentioned in various local histories for his contributions to the mining industry.

James Kissock, another prominent bearer of the surname, was born in 1833 and became a well-known political figure in Ayrshire. He was active in local politics during the mid-to-late 1800s and is often cited in council records and newspaper archives from the period.

By the late 19th century, the name Kissock had further established its presence within Scottish society. Thomas Kissock, born in 1872, was a respected academic and contributed significantly to Scottish literature. His works are still referenced in scholarly studies on Scottish history and cultural heritage.

The surname Kissock reflects a rich tapestry of Scottish history, embedded within the Gaelic roots and Lowland traditions. Its bearers through history played significant roles in their communities, whether in agriculture, industry, or politics, leaving a lasting legacy evident in various historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kissock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kissock 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. Kirkcudbrightshire leads with 50 Kissocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 292.57x.

County Total Index
Kirkcudbrightshire 50 292.57x
Lancashire 21 1.50x
Ayrshire 10 11.32x
Cheshire 8 3.07x
Lanarkshire 7 1.83x
Middlesex 6 0.51x
Hampshire 5 2.07x
Dumfriesshire 4 15.34x
Midlothian 3 1.90x
Banffshire 2 8.17x
Fife 2 2.86x
Essex 1 0.43x
Perthshire 1 1.89x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lochrutton in Kirkcudbrightshire leads with 21 Kissocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 8400.00x.

Place Total Index
Lochrutton 21 8400.00x
Kirkdale 9 38.20x
Dalton In Furness 8 147.87x
Kirkcudbright 8 567.38x
Tranmere 8 83.59x
Irongray 7 2187.50x
Crossmichael 6 1111.11x
Riccarton 6 451.13x
Binsted 5 543.48x
Bethnal Green London 4 7.80x
Govan 4 4.24x
Kelton 4 285.71x
Burnage 3 882.35x
Old Monkland 3 19.80x
Burntisland 2 102.56x
Dumfries 2 77.82x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 3.14x
Glencairn 2 285.71x
Keith 2 76.63x
Rerrick 2 273.97x
Tarbolton 2 137.93x
Balmaclellan 1 263.16x
Brightside Bierlow 1 4.36x
Duddingston 1 31.55x
Great Crosby 1 26.18x
Hammersmith London 1 3.44x
Islington London 1 0.87x
Kilmaurs 1 66.67x
Newton On Ayr 1 37.74x
Parton 1 344.83x
Perth East Church 1 20.04x
Woodford 1 37.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Alice 2
Margt. 2
Ann 1
Beatrice 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Janet 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Lily 1
Margaret 1
Rachael 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
David 5
James 3
Thomas 3
William 3
John 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bruce 1
Charles 1
Robert 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 Kissock households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 12
Apprentice 1
Assistant In Shop 1
Assistant Insurance Agent 1
Calico Printers Salesman 1
Com Clerk Commison Merchts 1
Commercial Clerk 1
Commissioned Boatman Coast Guard 1
Dock Gateman (Serv) 1
Domestic Servt General 1
General Servant (Domestic) 1
Insurance Agent 1
Manchester Warehouseman 1
Nurse Dom Serv 1
Pattern Maker(E&M) 1
Retired Draper 1
Solicitors Clerk 1

FAQ

Kissock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kissock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 121 people were recorded with the Kissock surname. That placed it at #17,671 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kissock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Kissock a modern rank of #31,358.

What does the Kissock surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place called "Kissock" in Scotland.

What does the Kissock map show?

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