NameCensus.

UK surname

Kitchin

A surname derived from the occupational term referring to a cook or kitchen worker.

In the 1881 census there were 647 people recorded with the Kitchin surname, ranking it #5,514 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 822, ranked #6,755, down from #5,514 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Millom, Muncaster and Egremont. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Bassetlaw and Barrow-in-Furness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kitchin is 1,000 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.0%.

1881 census count

647

Ranked #5,514

Modern count

822

2016, ranked #6,755

Peak year

1911

1,000 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kitchin had 647 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,514 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 822 in 2016, ranked #6,755.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,000 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kitchin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kitchin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kitchin 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 483 #5,157
1861 historical 415 #6,187
1881 historical 647 #5,514
1891 historical 675 #5,778
1901 historical 752 #5,930
1911 historical 1,000 #4,547
1997 modern 903 #5,947
1998 modern 920 #6,048
1999 modern 919 #6,100
2000 modern 927 #6,045
2001 modern 886 #6,143
2002 modern 896 #6,215
2003 modern 857 #6,311
2004 modern 876 #6,220
2005 modern 832 #6,406
2006 modern 824 #6,469
2007 modern 817 #6,578
2008 modern 825 #6,572
2009 modern 823 #6,721
2010 modern 832 #6,807
2011 modern 830 #6,732
2012 modern 809 #6,773
2013 modern 830 #6,747
2014 modern 839 #6,730
2015 modern 829 #6,722
2016 modern 822 #6,755

Geography

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Where Kitchins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Millom, Muncaster, Egremont, Dalton-in-Furness and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Bassetlaw, Barrow-in-Furness and Barnsley. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
3 Egremont Cumberland
4 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 041 Wakefield
2 Bassetlaw 003 Bassetlaw
3 Barrow-in-Furness 002 Barrow-in-Furness
4 Barnsley 008 Barnsley
5 Wakefield 042 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kitchin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kitchin

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Kitchin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kitchin 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kitchin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kitchin 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

Kitchin falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kitchin

The surname Kitchin originated in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is a topographic name derived from the Old English word "cycene," meaning "kitchen." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived or worked near a kitchen, perhaps in a monastery or manor house.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled "de la Kychene." This Latin form translates to "of the kitchen," further reinforcing the name's connection to its occupational roots.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Kychyn," "Kychene," and "Kychyn," reflecting the lack of standardized spelling at the time. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327 and the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 contain entries for individuals with the surname Kitchin.

The name Kitchin has also been associated with certain place names, such as Kitchen in Somerset and Kitchin Croft in Oxfordshire. These place names likely originated from the same Old English word, "cycene," and may have influenced the surname's development.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Kitchin throughout history include:

1. John Kitchin (c. 1350 - c. 1420), an English cleric and Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry IV.

2. Anthony Kitchin (c. 1495 - 1563), an English Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Llandaff from 1545 to 1563.

3. Ralph Kitchin (1497 - 1537), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake for his religious beliefs during the reign of King Henry VIII.

4. Thomas Kitchin (1718 - 1783), an English engraver and mapmaker known for his influential works, including "The Small British Atlas" and "The Large English Atlas."

5. George William Kitchin (1827 - 1912), an English clergyman and scholar who served as Dean of Winchester and Durham and published several works on the history of the Church of England.

While the surname Kitchin may have evolved over time, its roots can be traced back to the occupational and topographic origins it acquired in medieval England, reflecting a connection to kitchens and places associated with them.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kitchin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kitchin 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. Lancashire leads with 164 Kitchins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.20x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 164 2.20x
Yorkshire 155 2.49x
Cumberland 100 18.46x
Lincolnshire 40 3.98x
Middlesex 27 0.43x
Nottinghamshire 20 2.36x
Essex 12 0.97x
Kent 12 0.56x
Surrey 12 0.39x
Warwickshire 12 0.76x
Midlothian 11 1.31x
Derbyshire 9 0.91x
Gloucestershire 9 0.73x
Cheshire 8 0.58x
Durham 8 0.43x
Leicestershire 7 1.00x
Worcestershire 6 0.73x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.25x
Westmorland 5 3.62x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.69x
Lanarkshire 4 0.20x
Hampshire 3 0.23x
Bedfordshire 2 0.61x
Perthshire 2 0.71x
Staffordshire 2 0.09x
Berkshire 1 0.21x
Cornwall 1 0.14x
Herefordshire 1 0.39x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.80x
Northumberland 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ulverston in Lancashire leads with 75 Kitchins recorded in 1881 and an index of 344.83x.

Place Total Index
Ulverston 75 344.83x
Whitehaven 20 69.28x
Preston Quarter 18 118.58x
Ecclesall Bierlow 17 13.40x
Barrow In Furness 16 15.76x
Millom 15 90.36x
Toxteth Park 14 5.54x
Atherstone 12 148.15x
Cleator 11 48.78x
Hoghton 11 585.11x
Doncaster 10 21.95x
Hulme 10 6.42x
Sutton 10 1250.00x
Batley 9 15.19x
Scarborough 9 15.89x
Staveley 9 51.46x
Wickenby 9 1551.72x
Denaby 8 226.63x
Droylsden 8 32.84x
Lamplugh 8 294.12x
Muncaster 8 695.65x
Aldwark 7 1458.33x
Charlton Next Woolwich 7 31.26x
Great Grimsby 7 10.96x
Stretford 7 17.04x
Barnsley 6 9.33x
Battersea 6 2.59x
Donington 6 166.21x
East Broughton 6 281.69x
Falsgrave 6 65.29x
Glencorse 6 185.19x
Hunslet 6 6.17x
Liverpool 6 1.32x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.74x
Shildon 6 39.89x
Thorne 6 77.62x
Whixley 6 530.97x
Winterton 6 173.91x
Worcester St Peter 6 38.59x
Conistone Cum Kilnsey 5 1282.05x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.47x
Gosforth 5 189.39x
Halifax 5 5.46x
Hampton London 5 48.36x
Leicester St Margaret 5 2.94x
Potter Newton 5 45.45x
Quinton 5 462.96x
Thorner 5 247.52x
Beckermet St Bridget 4 279.72x
Bramley In Bramley 4 16.76x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 3.37x
Dearham 4 55.94x
Gamlingay 4 96.39x
Garforth 4 83.86x
Kendal 4 15.80x
Kirk Bramwith 4 1052.63x
Old Monkland 4 4.95x
Prestbury 4 130.72x
Sheffield 4 2.02x
St Pancras London 4 0.79x
Stockport 4 5.60x
West Ham 4 1.46x
Woodford 4 28.45x
Bermondsey 3 1.60x
Ennerdale Kinniside 3 476.19x
Fishlake 3 254.24x
Herne 3 31.58x
Hooton 3 857.14x
Hornsey 3 3.77x
Poplar London 3 2.53x
Wanstead 3 13.79x
York St Mary 3 11.62x
Beverley St Mary 2 21.95x
Holbeck 2 4.84x
Lambeth 2 0.36x
Ratcliffe Upon Trent 2 93.90x
Shoreditch London 2 0.73x
Skellingthorpe 2 129.03x
St Marylebone London 2 0.60x
Wapping London 2 41.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 57
Sarah 28
Elizabeth 24
Jane 24
Ann 16
Hannah 11
Isabella 11
Margaret 9
Ellen 8
Annie 6
Charlotte 6
Edith 5
Agnes 4
Betsy 4
Eliza 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Eleanor 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Gertrude 3
Harriett 3
Tamar 3
Alice 2
Anna 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maud 2
Susanna 2
C. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Floar 1
Hariet 1
Henerietta 1
Infant 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Maria 1
Yoi 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 59
William 36
Thomas 27
George 24
James 23
Henry 14
Joseph 12
Charles 8
Samuel 7
Richard 6
Edward 5
Herbert 5
Isaac 5
Walter 5
Thos. 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Archibald 2
Benjaiman 2
Chas. 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Matthew 2
Anthony 1
Beaumont 1
Benjamin 1
Benjamine 1
Benjn. 1
Brook 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Egerton 1
Eli 1
Elizabeth 1
Enoch 1
Enock 1
Evered 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Hy. 1
Jno. 1
Jonah 1
Jonathan 1
Kelita 1
Laurence 1

FAQ

Kitchin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kitchin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 647 people were recorded with the Kitchin surname. That placed it at #5,514 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kitchin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 822 in 2016. That gives Kitchin a modern rank of #6,755.

What does the Kitchin surname mean?

A surname derived from the occupational term referring to a cook or kitchen worker.

What does the Kitchin map show?

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