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

Kimsey, 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 Kimsey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kimsey in America

Kimsey is the 12807th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kimsey surname appeared 2,408 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 Kimsey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kimsey 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 Kimsey

The surname Kimsey is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English personal name "Cyma," which means "visitor" or "guest." The name may have initially referred to someone who frequently traveled or visited different places.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Kimsey can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known references is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, where a William de Kymesay is mentioned in 1297. This indicates that the surname was already in use during the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various historical records, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, where a Richard de Kymesey is listed. The name also appeared in the Wills and Inventories of the Archdeaconry of Richmond in 1392, where a Thomas Kymsey is mentioned.

One notable historical figure with the surname Kimsey was John Kimsey, who lived in the 16th century. He was an English clergyman and served as the Rector of Stoke Dry in Rutland from 1542 until his death in 1583.

Another individual of note was William Kimsey, born in 1628 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Leeds during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the surname Kimsey was also found in various parts of England. One example is Robert Kimsey, born in 1712 in Lincolnshire, who was a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker.

Moving into the 19th century, the surname Kimsey continued to be present in various regions of England. One notable figure was Henry Kimsey, born in 1823 in Derbyshire. He was a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings in the region.

Another individual of significance was Elizabeth Kimsey, born in 1845 in Lancashire. She was a pioneering educator and established one of the first schools for girls in the area, providing education opportunities for underprivileged children.

Over time, the surname Kimsey has evolved and taken on different spellings, such as Kymsey, Kemsay, and Kimsay, reflecting regional variations and the influence of local dialects. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, tracing back to its Old English roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kimsey

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

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

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

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