UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a person who worked in the kitchens of a large household or estate.
In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Kitchens surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #29,484 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Normanton, South and Bedford St Paul. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kitchens is 117 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 44.8%.
1881 census count
29
Ranked #29,484
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1861
117 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kitchens surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kitchens surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 64 | #21,914 |
| 1861 | historical | 117 | #18,635 |
| 1881 | historical | 29 | #29,484 |
| 1891 | historical | 68 | #28,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 50 | #28,590 |
| 1911 | historical | 29 | #30,190 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 12 | #36,790 |
| 1999 | modern | 13 | #36,693 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 12 | #36,679 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 13 | #37,191 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Normanton, South, Bedford St Paul, Haynes and Stockport. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonton | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Normanton, South | Nottinghamshire |
| 3 | Bedford St Paul | Bedfordshire |
| 4 | Haynes | Bedfordshire |
| 5 | Stockport | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kitchens surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kitchens, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Kitchens surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kitchens household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Kitchens is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kitchens is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kitchens, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kitchens is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "cycene" or "cycene-hus," meaning "kitchen" or "cookhouse." This suggests that the name likely originated from someone who worked as a cook or lived near the kitchen or cookhouse of a manor or estate.
The earliest recorded instance of the Kitchens surname dates back to the late 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195 as "Radulphus de Kuchene." This early spelling variation highlights the name's connection to the Old English word for kitchen.
In the Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are several references to places with names derived from "cycene," such as "Cuchenes" in Hertfordshire and "Cuchenehalla" in Norfolk. These place names may have contributed to the formation of the Kitchens surname.
One notable bearer of the Kitchens surname was John Kitchens (c. 1500-1563), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Llandaff and later as the Bishop of Bath and Wells during the reigns of Edward VI and Elizabeth I.
Another historical figure was William Kitchens (1592-1661), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, and was known for his involvement in the Westminster Assembly, a pivotal event in the English Reformation.
In the literary realm, John Kitchens (1723-1801) was an English poet and writer who published several works, including "The Traveller's Guide in Fourteen Sections" and "The Theory of Courting."
Moving to the United States, John Kitchens (1775-1845) was an early settler in Alabama and served as a judge in the Mississippi Territory, playing a significant role in the state's early legal history.
Another notable American with the Kitchens surname was William Edward Kitchens (1865-1942), a lawyer and politician from Mississippi who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1909 to 1923.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kitchens surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Nottinghamshire leads with 9 Kitchens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.61x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nottinghamshire | 9 | 23.61x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 9.04x |
| Essex | 3 | 5.37x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 1.06x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.60x |
| Somerset | 2 | 4.39x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 8.00x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 2.21x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 3.76x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.40x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.36x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Skegby in Nottinghamshire leads with 5 Kitchens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2173.91x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Skegby | 5 | 2173.91x |
| Dronfield | 4 | 701.75x |
| Blidworth Haywood | 3 | 7500.00x |
| West Ham | 3 | 24.35x |
| Lyncombe Widcombe | 2 | 168.07x |
| Newchurch | 2 | 72.73x |
| Rowde | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Caunton | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Finchley | 1 | 92.59x |
| Horton In Bradford | 1 | 22.83x |
| Isleworth | 1 | 79.37x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 6.36x |
| Leamington | 1 | 212.77x |
| Peterborough | 1 | 51.81x |
| Welby | 1 | 2500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kitchens surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kitchens surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Kitchens households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cotton Weaver | 2 |
| Factory Hand (Textile) | 2 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Clergymans Sch | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Colliery Underweaver | 1 |
| Dock Lab | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Engine Fireman | 1 |
| Farm Servant Indoor | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Ladys Maid Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Policeman | 1 |
| Retired C Miller | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Worsted Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Kitchens surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Kitchens a modern rank of #36,998.
An occupational surname referring to a person who worked in the kitchens of a large household or estate.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kitchens bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.