Kinsfather last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Kinsfather

A variant spelling of the surname meaning "father's kinsman" or "relative of the father".

Kinsfather, 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 Kinsfather surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kinsfather in America

Kinsfather is the 85049th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kinsfather surname appeared 220 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 Kinsfather.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kinsfather 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 85049 87348 -2.67%
Count 220 198 10.53%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.07 0.00%

The history of the last name Kinsfather

The surname Kinsfather has its roots in England, tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "cyn" meaning family or kin, and "fæder" meaning father, essentially translating to "father of the family" or "patriarch."

One of the earliest documented instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded landowners and taxpayers in various English counties. Here, the name is listed as "Kynsfadyr," hinting at its initial spelling variation.

During the Middle Ages, the name Kinsfather was predominantly found in the southern and central regions of England, particularly in counties like Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Gloucestershire. This suggests that the name may have had strong roots in these areas.

In the late 15th century, a notable figure named William Kinsfather was recorded as a landowner in the village of Burford, Oxfordshire. His birth and death dates are uncertain, but his presence in historical records underscores the name's longevity.

The Kinsfather surname also appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524, which documented taxpayers across England. One such entry lists a John Kinsfather from the county of Berkshire, indicating the name's continued presence during the Tudor period.

Interestingly, the name Kinsfather shares similarities with the place name "Kinsham," a small village in Herefordshire. While the direct connection is unclear, it is possible that the surname may have derived from this location or vice versa.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Kinsfather surname, Thomas Kinsfather (1565-1625) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol during the Elizabethan era. His wealth and influence were well-documented in local records.

Another Kinsfather of note was Robert Kinsfather (1680-1742), a respected clergyman who served as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in Warwick for over two decades. His sermons and writings were widely circulated during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the Kinsfather surname gained prominence with the birth of William Kinsfather (1818-1892), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Lancashire. He played a significant role in the development of the local textile industry and supported various charitable causes.

The name Kinsfather has also made its mark in the literary world. One such figure was Elizabeth Kinsfather (1857-1932), a acclaimed poet and author from Gloucestershire. Her works were widely published and celebrated during the Victorian era.

While the Kinsfather surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and enduring presence across various regions of England highlight its deep-rooted significance in the country's cultural tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kinsfather

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

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 Kinsfather was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.55% 208
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 2.73% 6

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 Kinsfather has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.55% 96.46% -2.00%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 2.73% 0.00% 200.00%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Kinsfather last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 5, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/kinsfather-surname-popularity/.

"Kinsfather last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/kinsfather-surname-popularity/. Accessed 5 May, 2025

Kinsfather last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/kinsfather-surname-popularity/.

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