NameCensus.

UK surname

Kita

A Japanese surname meaning "north" or "northern field".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Eastleigh and Boston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kita is 115 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

115

2016, ranked #28,348

Peak year

2016

115 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016, ranked #28,348.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Kita surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kita surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kita 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1997 modern 21 #35,692
1998 modern 21 #35,788
1999 modern 24 #35,514
2000 modern 27 #35,188
2001 modern 28 #34,936
2002 modern 28 #35,139
2003 modern 29 #35,129
2004 modern 37 #34,640
2005 modern 42 #34,395
2006 modern 58 #33,433
2007 modern 63 #33,243
2008 modern 75 #32,373
2009 modern 81 #32,172
2010 modern 94 #31,111
2011 modern 89 #31,659
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 111 #28,856
2014 modern 104 #30,365
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 115 #28,348

Geography

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Where Kitas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, Eastleigh, Boston, Haringey and Kingston upon Thames. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 016 Salford
2 Eastleigh 006 Eastleigh
3 Boston 002 Boston
4 Haringey 025 Haringey
5 Kingston upon Thames 017 Kingston upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kita

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kita

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Kita surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kita 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 often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Kita is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kita is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kita falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kita is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Kita

The surname KITA originates from Japan and dates back to around the 8th century. It is believed to have derived from the Japanese word "kita," which means "north." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to individuals who lived in the northern regions of Japan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KITA can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an early Japanese chronicle completed in 797 AD. This text mentions a person named Kita no Aritsune, who served as a provincial governor during the Nara period (710-794 AD).

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD), the KITA name gained prominence with the rise of the Kita clan, a prominent samurai family based in the northern Mutsu Province (present-day Aomori Prefecture). Notable members of this clan include Kita Masatsune (1238-1305), a skilled military commander who played a crucial role in the defense of northern Japan against Mongol invasions.

In the Edo period (1603-1868 AD), the KITA name was associated with several influential daimyo (feudal lords) and scholars. One notable figure was Kita Naokata (1619-1683), a daimyo of the Takamatsu Domain (present-day Kagawa Prefecture) who was known for his expertise in Confucian studies and calligraphy.

Another notable bearer of the KITA surname was Kita Ikki (1284-1438), a Buddhist monk and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Zen Buddhism. His writings and teachings influenced the development of Zen philosophy in Japan.

During the Meiji period (1868-1912 AD), the KITA name gained further prominence with individuals who played important roles in the modernization of Japan. One such figure was Kita Ikki (1883-1937), a political theorist and revolutionary who advocated for a system of direct democracy and played a role in the attempted coup d'état in 1936.

Other notable individuals with the KITA surname include Kita Reikichi (1873-1944), a pioneering agricultural scientist known for his work on improving rice cultivation methods, and Kita Sadakichi (1870-1939), a writer and art critic who was active in the United States and played a role in introducing Japanese art and culture to Western audiences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kita surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kita surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016. That gives Kita a modern rank of #28,348.

What does the Kita surname mean?

A Japanese surname meaning "north" or "northern field".

What does the Kita map show?

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