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

Kindle, 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 Kindle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kindle in America

Kindle is the 8065th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kindle surname appeared 4,109 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 Kindle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kindle 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 Kindle

The surname Kindle originated in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cyndel," which means "kindling" or "firebrand." This suggests that the name may have been originally given to someone who worked with fire or kindling, such as a blacksmith or a charcoal burner.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kindle can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named Walter Kyndel is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Kyndel."

In the 14th century, the name was recorded in various spellings, including "Kyndel," "Kyndill," and "Kyndyll." These variations reflect the evolution of the English language and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

During the medieval period, the Kindle family was most prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Somerset. Some of the earliest recorded place names associated with the surname include Kyndelton (now Kington) in Worcestershire and Kyndlesham (now Kinsham) in Gloucestershire.

One notable figure with the surname Kindle was John Kindle (c. 1490-1555), a merchant and alderman from Bristol, England. He served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1530 and was a prominent figure in the city's trade and governance.

Another individual of historical importance was Sir William Kindle (c. 1525-1597), a English soldier and Member of Parliament. He served in the English army during the Anglo-Scottish Wars and was knighted for his service in 1588.

In the 17th century, the Kindle family spread across England, with some members migrating to the American colonies. One such individual was Thomas Kindle (c. 1620-1695), who settled in Virginia and became a successful tobacco planter.

Other notable individuals with the surname Kindle include:

1. Robert Kindle (1775-1835), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.
2. Elizabeth Kindle (1810-1892), a philanthropist and social reformer from London, known for her work in improving conditions for the poor.
3. James Kindle (1845-1912), an American geologist and paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of fossil fuels.
4. William Kindle (1870-1944), a Canadian geologist and paleontologist, renowned for his research on the geology of the Canadian Arctic.
5. Arthur Kindle (1885-1962), a British artist and illustrator, known for his book illustrations and landscapes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kindle

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

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

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

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