Find out how popular the last name Kilner is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kilner.

Kilner, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kilner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kilner in America

Kilner is the 50196th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kilner surname appeared 417 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kilner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kilner to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kilner

The surname Kilner has its origins in England, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English word "cylene," which means a kiln or an oven, and the suffix "-er," indicating an occupation or a person associated with a particular trade or activity.

This surname likely originated as a descriptive name for individuals who worked with kilns, such as potters, brick makers, or lime burners. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th century onwards, with spellings like Kylner, Kilner, and Kylnere.

In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no direct mentions of the surname Kilner. However, the book does contain references to individuals with occupational names related to kilns or ovens, indicating the existence of such professions during that time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Kilner surname was John Kilner, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327. Another early mention is found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, from 1379, where a Thomas Kilner is listed.

The surname Kilner has been associated with various locations in England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire, where the name seems to have originated and gained prominence.

Notable individuals with the surname Kilner throughout history include:

1. John Kilner (1758-1838), an English potter and entrepreneur from Wakefield, Yorkshire, who founded the Kilner Brothers glassworks and is credited with patenting the iconic Kilner jar in 1842.

2. Thomas Kilner (1776-1834), an English mathematician and clergyman from Yorkshire, known for his work on the theory of algebraic equations.

3. William Kilner (1846-1924), a British politician and industrialist from Yorkshire, who served as a Member of Parliament and was involved in the glass and pottery industries.

4. Dorothy Kilner (1755-1832), an English writer and educator from Yorkshire, known for her literary works and her contributions to the education of women.

5. William Kilner (1690-1765), an English clergyman and theologian from Derbyshire, who published several religious works and sermons during his lifetime.

While the Kilner surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration, with notable bearers of the name found in various countries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kilner

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kilner.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kilner was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kilner has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kilner was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kilner, please contact us.

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