NameCensus.

UK surname

Kitcher

A Scottish surname derived from "kitchen" and referring to an occupation associated with kitchens.

In the 1881 census there were 281 people recorded with the Kitcher surname, ranking it #10,175 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 608, ranked #8,623, up from #10,175 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lymington, Millbrook and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Forest and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kitcher is 638 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 116.4%.

1881 census count

281

Ranked #10,175

Modern count

608

2016, ranked #8,623

Peak year

2013

638 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kitcher had 281 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,175 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 608 in 2016, ranked #8,623.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 585 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Kitcher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kitcher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kitcher 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 305 #7,542
1861 historical 369 #6,919
1881 historical 281 #10,175
1891 historical 486 #7,600
1901 historical 578 #7,272
1911 historical 585 #6,965
1997 modern 586 #8,283
1998 modern 599 #8,407
1999 modern 596 #8,475
2000 modern 623 #8,207
2001 modern 611 #8,182
2002 modern 629 #8,174
2003 modern 627 #8,040
2004 modern 627 #8,061
2005 modern 614 #8,134
2006 modern 609 #8,193
2007 modern 613 #8,224
2008 modern 625 #8,146
2009 modern 637 #8,196
2010 modern 631 #8,449
2011 modern 631 #8,357
2012 modern 612 #8,478
2013 modern 638 #8,329
2014 modern 630 #8,453
2015 modern 615 #8,556
2016 modern 608 #8,623

Geography

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Where Kitchers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lymington, Millbrook, London parishes, Beaulieu and Southampton St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Forest and Kirklees. 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 Lymington Hampshire
2 Millbrook Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Beaulieu Hampshire
5 Southampton St Mary Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Forest 017 New Forest
2 New Forest 011 New Forest
3 New Forest 014 New Forest
4 New Forest 009 New Forest
5 Kirklees 018 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kitcher

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kitcher

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

Spacious Rural Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Kitcher is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kitcher is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Kitcher

The surname KITCHER is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cycene," which means kitchen, suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who worked in a kitchen or was associated with cooking.

The earliest recorded instances of the KITCHER surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various English county records and tax rolls. One notable early bearer of the name was John Kichener, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

In the 14th century, the KITCHER name appeared in various forms, such as Kychener, Kechener, and Kychyner, reflecting the variations in spelling during that time. Some early records include Robert le Kychener, mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1349, and William Kychyner, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1377.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the KITCHER surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with some notable individuals bearing the name. These include John Kytchyn, a merchant from London who lived in the late 15th century, and William Kytchen, a landowner from Surrey mentioned in the Feet of Fines records in 1589.

In the 17th century, the KITCHER name was well-established in various regions of England, and some individuals achieved notable status. One such person was Richard Kitchin (1599-1668), an English churchman who served as the Bishop of Llandaff in Wales.

As the centuries progressed, the KITCHER surname continued to be found across England, with families settling in various counties. Some notable individuals from more recent history include John Kitchin (1723-1798), a British navigator and explorer who accompanied Captain James Cook on his voyages, and George Kitchin (1827-1912), an English historian and theologian who served as the Dean of Winchester Cathedral.

While the KITCHER surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, as a result of migration and immigration over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kitcher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kitcher 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. Hampshire leads with 184 Kitchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.63x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 184 31.63x
Middlesex 23 0.81x
Sussex 17 3.55x
Yorkshire 12 0.43x
Channel Islands 9 10.70x
Surrey 8 0.58x
Dorset 7 3.76x
Cheshire 4 0.64x
Glamorgan 4 0.81x
Devon 3 0.51x
Lanarkshire 3 0.33x
Lancashire 3 0.09x
Suffolk 3 0.87x
Berkshire 2 0.94x
Wiltshire 2 0.80x
Essex 1 0.18x
Kent 1 0.10x
Lincolnshire 1 0.22x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.11x
Royal Navy 1 2.96x
Somerset 1 0.22x
Worcestershire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sway in Hampshire leads with 31 Kitchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3974.36x.

Place Total Index
Sway 31 3974.36x
Beaulieu 24 2666.67x
Boldre 18 865.38x
Fawley 17 918.92x
Brighton 16 16.57x
Lymington 13 303.74x
Southampton St Mary 13 35.54x
Great Driffield 11 190.64x
Denny Lodge 9 3214.29x
Islington London 9 3.27x
Portsea 9 7.89x
Brockenhurst 8 792.08x
Holdenhurst 8 52.42x
Camberwell 6 3.31x
Milton 5 344.83x
South Stoneham 5 39.62x
St Peter 5 205.76x
Bere Regis 4 320.00x
Eling 4 67.91x
Harrow On The Hill 4 70.55x
Northwood 4 48.31x
Paddington London 4 3.83x
Whippingham 4 90.70x
Ystradyfodwg 4 9.23x
Godshill 3 223.88x
Govan 3 1.32x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 30.96x
St Saviour 3 64.52x
Stayley 3 41.90x
Blackburn 2 2.23x
Bradpole 2 130.72x
Earley 2 56.34x
Hordle 2 198.02x
Milford 2 117.65x
Niton 2 256.41x
Plaitford 2 1176.47x
St Marylebone London 2 1.32x
Tormoham 2 8.00x
Aldershot 1 5.13x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.18x
Bramhall 1 38.46x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 9.90x
Chiswick 1 6.45x
Eastbourne 1 4.54x
Hamworthy 1 153.85x
Hindlip 1 400.00x
Milford Haven 1 136.99x
Newington 1 0.95x
Portsmouth 1 7.46x
Rotherhithe 1 2.85x
Royal Navy 1 3.46x
Southampton All Sts 1 10.02x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.00x
St Helier 1 3.65x
St Martin Lincoln 1 23.75x
St Pancras London 1 0.44x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.52x
Torbrian 1 500.00x
Wetwang 1 163.93x
Woodford 1 15.77x
Wrington 1 65.36x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 16
Henry 12
Charles 11
John 10
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Alfred 4
David 4
Harry 4
Robert 4
Thomas 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
James 3
Walter 3
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Abraham 1
Andrew 1
Danial 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Herbert 1
Howard 1
Isaac 1
Jamie 1
Joseph 1
Moses 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
Rodney 1
Seymour 1
Sydney 1
Thos 1
Tim 1
Walker 1
Willm. 1
Willm.L. 1
Willy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Kitcher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kitcher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 281 people were recorded with the Kitcher surname. That placed it at #10,175 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kitcher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 608 in 2016. That gives Kitcher a modern rank of #8,623.

What does the Kitcher surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from "kitchen" and referring to an occupation associated with kitchens.

What does the Kitcher map show?

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