NameCensus.

UK surname

Kuhl

A German occupational surname referring to a person who transports goods, derived from the Middle High German word "kuol".

In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Kuhl surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, up from #30,215 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maldon, Chelmsford and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kuhl is 115 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 366.7%.

1881 census count

24

Ranked #30,215

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

2015

115 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kuhl had 24 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,215 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 79 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kuhl surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kuhl surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kuhl 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
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1881 historical 24 #30,215
1891 historical 25 #32,259
1901 historical 64 #27,010
1911 historical 79 #24,903
1997 modern 84 #29,106
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 88 #29,287
2000 modern 87 #29,377
2001 modern 82 #29,714
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 95 #29,113
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 109 #28,689
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Kuhls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maldon, Chelmsford, South Hams, Flintshire and Rochdale. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maldon 002 Maldon
2 Chelmsford 016 Chelmsford
3 South Hams 002 South Hams
4 Flintshire 006 Flintshire
5 Rochdale 007 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kuhl

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kuhl

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Kuhl surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kuhl 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kuhl 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

Kuhl 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

Kuhl 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 Kuhl is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Kuhl

The surname "KUHL" originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "kuole," meaning "cool" or "cold." This likely referred to someone who lived in a cool or shaded area, or perhaps someone with a calm temperament.

The earliest known record of the Kuhl surname dates back to the 13th century in the German region of Saxony. In 1287, a document from the town of Weissenfels mentions a "Johannes Kuhl" among the local residents. Other early spellings include "Kuhle," "Kuhlen," and "Kule."

In the 14th century, the name appears in several historical records from various German cities and towns. In 1332, a "Heinrich Kuhle" is listed in the tax records of the city of Cologne. A "Dietrich Kule" is mentioned in a 1348 document from the town of Halberstadt.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the Kuhl surname was Johann Kuhl, a German botanist and zoologist born in 1765. He made significant contributions to the study of birds and wrote several important works on the subject.

Another noteworthy figure was Johann Gottfried Kuhl, born in 1805, who was a prominent German theologian and writer. He authored several books on religious topics and served as a pastor in the city of Berlin.

In the 19th century, Carl Ludwig Kuhl, born in 1822, was a German engineer and inventor. He is credited with developing several important innovations in the field of steam engine design.

The Kuhl name can also be found in various place names throughout Germany, such as Kuhlendorf (meaning "Kuhl's village") and Kuhlbach (meaning "Kuhl's creek").

Throughout its history, the surname Kuhl has been associated with individuals from various professions and walks of life, including academics, clergy, scientists, and craftsmen. While not as widespread as some other German surnames, it has maintained a presence in various regions of the country for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kuhl families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kuhl 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. Middlesex leads with 12 Kuhls recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 12 5.13x
Lancashire 3 1.08x
Stirlingshire 3 34.76x
Yorkshire 3 1.29x
Durham 2 2.87x
Kent 1 1.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 5 Kuhls recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.16x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 5 49.16x
St George Bloomsbury 4 298.51x
Falkirk 3 148.51x
Liverpool 3 17.79x
Redcar 3 1666.67x
Stranton 2 85.47x
Bromley London 1 19.42x
Deptford St Paul 1 16.23x
Ealing 1 47.85x
St George Hanover Square 1 24.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Albertine 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Ernestine 1
Helene 1
Josephnia 1
Mary 1
Wilhemia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Arthur 1
C. 1
Christian 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
George 1
Henry 1
Hugo 1
Johann 1
Wilhelm 1

Top occupations

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 Kuhl households.

FAQ

Kuhl surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kuhl surname in 1881?

In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Kuhl surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kuhl surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Kuhl a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Kuhl surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to a person who transports goods, derived from the Middle High German word "kuol".

What does the Kuhl map show?

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