NameCensus.

UK surname

Kneale

An English surname derived from a location in the Isle of Man.

In the 1881 census there were 195 people recorded with the Kneale surname, ranking it #13,054 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 626, ranked #8,424, up from #13,054 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Dalton-in-Furness and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Wigan and Lancaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kneale is 651 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 221.0%.

1881 census count

195

Ranked #13,054

Modern count

626

2016, ranked #8,424

Peak year

1999

651 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kneale had 195 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,054 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 626 in 2016, ranked #8,424.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 372 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Kneale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kneale surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kneale 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 107 #16,402
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 195 #13,054
1891 historical 230 #13,494
1901 historical 318 #11,187
1911 historical 372 #9,807
1997 modern 609 #8,057
1998 modern 620 #8,202
1999 modern 651 #7,931
2000 modern 637 #8,054
2001 modern 615 #8,138
2002 modern 638 #8,074
2003 modern 612 #8,203
2004 modern 615 #8,203
2005 modern 612 #8,153
2006 modern 611 #8,170
2007 modern 626 #8,086
2008 modern 638 #8,027
2009 modern 637 #8,196
2010 modern 641 #8,336
2011 modern 632 #8,346
2012 modern 617 #8,413
2013 modern 629 #8,429
2014 modern 641 #8,356
2015 modern 630 #8,394
2016 modern 626 #8,424

Geography

Back to top

Where Kneales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Dalton-in-Furness, Liverpool, West Derby and Llanina. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Wigan and Lancaster. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Llanina Cardiganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 013 Halton
2 Wigan 001 Wigan
3 Lancaster 003 Lancaster
4 Halton 011 Halton
5 Halton 014 Halton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kneale

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kneale

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

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Kneale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Kneale 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 predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kneale is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kneale is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kneale falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kneale

The surname Kneale has its roots in the Isle of Man, a small island located in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. It is believed to have originated from an Old Norse phrase, "kné-holr," which means "knee-shaped hollow" or "knee-shaped hill." This suggests that the name likely referred to a geographical feature or a place where the earliest bearers of this surname resided.

The name Kneale can be traced back to the 12th century, when the Isle of Man was under the rule of the Norse-Gaelic Kingdom of Mann and the Isles. Records from this period, including the Manx Book of Days and the Chronicles of Mann, mention individuals with variations of the name, such as Kneale, Kneal, and Kneel.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kneale appears in the Manx Heraldic Visitations of 1505, which documents the genealogy and coats of arms of Manx families. The Kneale family is listed among the "principal families" of the island, indicating their prominence and longevity in the region.

Historically, the Kneale family has been associated with several notable individuals. John Kneale (1624-1699) was a renowned Manx scholar and author who translated religious texts into the Manx language. Another notable bearer of the name was William Kneale (1825-1894), a Manx historian and author who published several works on the history and culture of the Isle of Man.

In the 17th century, the Kneale surname began to spread beyond the Isle of Man as migration patterns shifted. Thomas Kneale (1663-1737), a merchant from the Isle of Man, settled in Liverpool, England, and his descendants continued to use the surname.

Another notable figure with the Kneale surname was William Kneale (1875-1957), a British philosopher and logician who made significant contributions to the field of modal logic. He was born in Penrith, England, but his family traced their ancestry back to the Isle of Man.

As the name Kneale spread across the British Isles and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Kneal, Kneall, and Kneel. However, the Kneale spelling remained predominant, particularly among those with direct ties to the Isle of Man.

In summary, the surname Kneale has a rich history rooted in the Isle of Man, dating back to the 12th century and possibly earlier. It is believed to have originated from an Old Norse phrase referring to a geographical feature, and the name has been associated with several notable scholars, authors, and intellectuals throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Kneale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kneale 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. Isle of Man leads with 517 Kneales recorded in 1881 and an index of 401.96x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 517 401.96x
Lancashire 128 1.56x
Cumberland 27 4.53x
Cheshire 13 0.85x
Worcestershire 8 0.88x
Staffordshire 5 0.21x
Anglesey 2 1.63x
Kent 2 0.08x
Middlesex 2 0.03x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.23x
Essex 1 0.07x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Wigtownshire 1 1.09x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 122 Kneales recorded in 1881 and an index of 329.28x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 122 329.28x
Lezayre 87 1507.80x
Maughold 49 493.95x
Andreas 47 1346.70x
Bride 39 2215.91x
Liverpool 36 7.21x
Braddan 27 384.62x
Malew 26 231.32x
Lonan 25 320.92x
Ballaugh 24 1048.03x
Everton 23 8.78x
Toxteth Park 23 8.26x
Jurby 19 1217.95x
Douglas 13 698.92x
Arlecdon 12 75.66x
German Peel 11 148.45x
West Derby 11 4.57x
Millom 10 54.73x
Patrick 8 127.59x
Warley Wigorn 8 277.78x
Dalton In Furness 7 22.07x
Michael 6 229.89x
Barrow In Furness 5 4.47x
Kirkdale 5 3.62x
West Bromwich 5 3.74x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 2.23x
Muncaster 4 314.96x
St Anne 4 289.86x
Stockport 4 5.08x
Wallasey 4 76.92x
Arbory 3 107.14x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 4.60x
North Meols 3 3.73x
Rushen 3 34.48x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 4.85x
German 2 28.49x
Greenwich 2 1.81x
Holyhead 2 8.74x
Liscard 2 7.26x
St Pancras London 2 0.36x
Urmston 2 37.52x
Birkenhead 1 0.82x
Cleator 1 4.03x
Clifton 1 1.46x
Dagenham 1 12.29x
Elswick 1 1.22x
Great Crosby 1 4.46x
Halifax 1 0.99x
Higher Bebington 1 10.21x
Ince In Makerfield 1 2.62x
Malew Castletown 1 434.78x
Oxton 1 11.56x
Pendleton In Salford 1 1.02x
Ramsey 1 1000.00x
St Andrewthe Great 1 17.64x
Ulverston 1 4.18x
Whithorn 1 14.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 38
Jane 31
Mary 29
Ann 24
Margaret 24
Catherine 17
Annie 12
Eleanor 12
Isabella 11
Ellen 10
Eliza 9
Emily 8
Christian 7
Esther 7
Margret 6
Maria 6
Anne 5
Emma 5
Sarah 5
Agnes 4
Louisa 4
Alice 3
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Susannah 3
Bessie 2
Catharine 2
Cathrine 2
Elinor 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Francis 2
Kate 2
Sophia 2
Bertha 1
Cate 1
Catheren 1
Deborah 1
Eda 1
Elenor 1
Elisa 1
Elizebeth 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabala 1
Isaballa 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 68
Thomas 53
William 51
James 34
Robert 23
Charles 9
Daniel 8
Edward 8
Henry 7
Joseph 7
George 6
Thos. 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 4
Hugh 4
David 3
Frederick 3
Jno. 3
Philip 3
Wm. 3
Francis 2
Patrick 2
Robt. 2
Stanley 2
Stephen 2
Wm.Hy. 2
Chas. 1
Evan 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Irving 1
Isaac 1
Jas.Coole 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Laurence 1
Lewis 1
Llewellyn 1
Louis 1
Phillip 1
Robina 1
Samuel 1
Thos.Teare 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Will. 1

FAQ

Kneale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kneale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 195 people were recorded with the Kneale surname. That placed it at #13,054 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kneale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 626 in 2016. That gives Kneale a modern rank of #8,424.

What does the Kneale surname mean?

An English surname derived from a location in the Isle of Man.

What does the Kneale map show?

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