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

Kimbell, 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 Kimbell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kimbell in America

Kimbell is the 16481st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kimbell surname appeared 1,743 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Kimbell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kimbell 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 Kimbell

The surname Kimbell has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "cym" meaning "entering a valley" and "bell" meaning "a hill or ridge". This suggests that the name originated from a place where people lived near a valley or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kimbell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, dated 1195, which mention a William de Kymbel. This indicates that the name had already evolved into its modern spelling by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire, which lists a Richard de Kynebelle in 1273. This variation in spelling highlights the fluidity of surname spellings during that period.

The Kimbell name is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a John Kymbell is listed. This record provides evidence of the name's presence in different regions of England.

One noteworthy individual bearing the Kimbell surname was Sir Richard Kembell, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Sussex who lived in the late 15th century. He was known for his extensive property holdings and served as a Member of Parliament for Lewes in 1491.

Another prominent figure was John Kimbell, a renowned English architect who lived from 1623 to 1708. He is best known for his work on the design and construction of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home for British soldiers.

In the 18th century, William Kimbell (1735-1812) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Liverpool. He made his fortune in the cotton trade and donated generously to various charitable causes, including the establishment of schools and hospitals.

The 19th century saw the birth of George Kimbell (1824-1892), a celebrated English poet and playwright. His works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, earning him critical acclaim during his lifetime.

Lastly, a notable figure from the 20th century was Sir Ralph Kimbell (1910-1995), a British diplomat and ambassador. He served in various diplomatic roles, including as the British Ambassador to Belgium from 1964 to 1969.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kimbell

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

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 Kimbell 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 Kimbell 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 Kimbell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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