NameCensus.

UK surname

Kitch

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "kichene" meaning kitchen.

In the 1881 census there were 220 people recorded with the Kitch surname, ranking it #12,087 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, down from #12,087 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chard, London parishes and Curry, North. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kitch is 234 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.6%.

1881 census count

220

Ranked #12,087

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

1901

234 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kitch had 220 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,087 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 234 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Kitch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kitch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kitch 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 151 #12,840
1861 historical 156 #14,813
1881 historical 220 #12,087
1891 historical 201 #14,866
1901 historical 234 #13,705
1911 historical 232 #13,592
1997 modern 196 #17,859
1998 modern 193 #18,511
1999 modern 195 #18,517
2000 modern 195 #18,494
2001 modern 195 #18,215
2002 modern 195 #18,590
2003 modern 191 #18,628
2004 modern 186 #19,059
2005 modern 172 #19,908
2006 modern 167 #20,447
2007 modern 174 #20,166
2008 modern 176 #20,224
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 180 #20,812
2011 modern 183 #20,425
2012 modern 193 #19,665
2013 modern 185 #20,575
2014 modern 181 #21,033
2015 modern 174 #21,449
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

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Where Kitchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chard, London parishes, Curry, North, Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington and Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor and County Durham. 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 Chard Somerset
2 London parishes London 3
3 Curry, North Somerset
4 Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall, Curland,Hatch Beauchamp, Isle Abbots, Isle Brewers, Bredon, Puckington Somerset
5 Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 013 Sedgemoor
2 County Durham 059 County Durham
3 County Durham 058 County Durham
4 Sedgemoor 008 Sedgemoor
5 Sedgemoor 014 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kitch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kitch

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kitch, 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 Kitch surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kitch 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Kitch 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

Kitch is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kitch falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kitch is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kitch

The surname KITCH is of English origin, first appearing in historical records during the late 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English word "cic," meaning a small village or settlement. The earliest known bearer of the name was Walter atte Kiche, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

One of the earliest documented instances of the KITCH surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John de Kychche is listed. This spelling variation reflects the fluidity of surname spellings during the Middle Ages before they became standardized.

The KITCH name is also thought to have connections to the village of Kitch in Shropshire, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Cice." This suggests that some early bearers of the surname may have hailed from or been associated with this particular location.

In the 16th century, the KITCH surname appeared in various spellings, such as Kytche, Kichyn, and Kytchen, reflecting the phonetic nature of early surname recording. One notable example is William Kytche, who was born in Gloucestershire around 1520 and served as a member of Parliament for the borough of Tewkesbury.

Another early bearer of the KITCH name was John Kytchen, a merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was involved in the Newfoundland trade and is mentioned in several historical documents from the time.

In the 18th century, the KITCH surname continued to be found across various regions of England. For instance, Richard Kitch (1732-1808) was a prominent clockmaker from Hertfordshire, known for his long case clocks and innovative designs.

Moving into the 19th century, one notable figure with the KITCH surname was Mary Ann Kitch (1805-1888), a British author and poet who wrote under the pen name "Dolores." She published several collections of poetry and was recognized for her contributions to Victorian literature.

Throughout history, the KITCH surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and tradesmen. While not as widespread as some other English surnames, it continues to hold a place in the genealogical records and historical accounts of the British Isles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kitch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kitch 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. Somerset leads with 138 Kitchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.95x.

County Total Index
Somerset 138 39.95x
Middlesex 23 1.07x
Gloucestershire 9 2.14x
Lancashire 9 0.35x
Durham 8 1.25x
Surrey 8 0.77x
Devon 6 1.34x
Nottinghamshire 6 2.07x
Dorset 4 2.84x
Ayrshire 2 1.25x
Staffordshire 2 0.28x
Hampshire 1 0.23x
Kent 1 0.14x
Sussex 1 0.28x
Warwickshire 1 0.18x
Wiltshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashill in Somerset leads with 36 Kitchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10285.71x.

Place Total Index
Ashill 36 10285.71x
Bridgewater 25 266.52x
North Petherton 25 896.06x
Broadway 10 3030.30x
Habergham Eaves 9 38.66x
North Curry 9 762.71x
Willesden 9 44.49x
Coundon 8 308.88x
West Buckland 7 1060.61x
Beeston 6 180.72x
Bristol St George 6 30.82x
Fulham London 5 16.07x
Isle Abbotts 5 1923.08x
Withycombe Rawleigh 5 214.59x
Camberwell 4 2.92x
Maiden Newton 4 677.97x
West Hatch 4 1290.32x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 7.57x
Ilminster 3 124.48x
Lyncombe Widcombe 3 33.19x
Stoke St Mary 3 1764.71x
Darlaston 2 19.98x
Muirkirk 2 53.05x
St Lawrence Poultney 2 2857.14x
All Hallows Barking 1 185.19x
Bath St James 1 27.78x
Bickenhall 1 769.23x
Birmingham 1 0.55x
Caterham 1 21.65x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.97x
Deal 1 16.00x
Devizes St John 1 69.93x
East Stonehouse 1 11.36x
Eastbourne 1 6.01x
Kingston 1 144.93x
Lambeth 1 0.53x
Merton 1 54.64x
Middlezoy 1 238.10x
Morden 1 192.31x
Nynehead 1 416.67x
Portsea 1 1.16x
Ruishton 1 285.71x
St Giles In Fields London 1 9.50x
St Martin In Fields 1 7.78x
St Marylebone London 1 0.87x
St Pancras London 1 0.58x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 46.51x
Stoke St Gregory 1 95.24x
Taunton St James 1 19.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 8
Ann 6
Emily 6
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Ellen 4
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Annie 3
Jane 3
Lucy 3
Ruth 3
Bessie 2
Eva 2
Georgina 2
Alice 1
Alma 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
C. 1
Carolina 1
Charlotte 1
Dina 1
Elina 1
Elizth 1
Elizth. 1
F. 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Hannan 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Jestina 1
Julia 1
Justina 1
Kett 1
Lilian 1
Lingford 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 10
George 7
James 7
Charles 5
Walter 5
Fred 4
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Samuel 3
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Job 2
Adolpus 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Aron 1
Arthur 1
Auther 1
Dan 1
Daniel 1
Eli 1
Fredric 1
Henery 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Joseph 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Solomon 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Kitch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kitch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 220 people were recorded with the Kitch surname. That placed it at #12,087 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kitch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Kitch a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Kitch surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "kichene" meaning kitchen.

What does the Kitch map show?

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