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Kentish Family History

Kentish Surname Meaning

English (southeastern): habitational name from Middle English Kanteis Kenteis ‘Kentish’

(Old French Kanteis Kenteis influenced by Old English Centisc).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kentish family from?

You can see how Kentish families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kentish family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Kentish families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 97 Kentish families living in London. This was about 40% of all the recorded Kentish's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Kentish families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kentish surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Kentish ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bus Driver L P T B and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kentish. 10% of Kentish men worked as a Bus Driver L P T B and 74% of Kentish women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kentish were Gardener and Retired.

View Census Data for Kentish | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Bus Driver L P T B
    10%
  • Domestic Servant
    10%
  • Furniture Packer
    10%
  • Gardener
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Private Means
    8%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Retired
    3%

What Kentish family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Kentish. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kentish census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kentish

Passenger Lists

There are 882 immigration records available for the last name Kentish. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kentish immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 464 military records available for the last name Kentish. For the veterans among your Kentish ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kentish military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kentish family history

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What is the average Kentish lifespan?

Between 1969 and 2004, in the United States, Kentish life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1988, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Kentish in 1969 was 81, and 62 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kentish

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kentish ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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