Contents [hide]

Kite History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Kite History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England produced the name of Kite. It was given to a person who had acquired the nickname of the kite, which was originally derived from the Old English word cyta, referring to the "kite" the bird of prey. 1 2 In this case the original bearer of the surname earned this name due to their wild, and high-spirited nature.

Early Origins of the Kite family

The surname Kite was first found in Norfolk where Richard Kete was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1166. Years later, Richard Kyte was listed in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1243; William Ket in the Hundredorum Rolls for Norfolk in 1275; Peter le Kyte in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327; and John Kette in the Subsidy Rolls for Cumberland in 1327. Ralph atte Kete was found in the Pipe Rolls for Kent in 1292. 3

In Yorkshire, Hugo Kyte was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 4 Again in Norfolk, but much later, John Kyte, was Rector of Wolferton in 1507. 5

Early History of the Kite family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kite research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1483, 1485, 1507, 1513, 1521, 1524, 1526, 1534, 1535, 1537, 1540, 1547, 1549, 1589, 1616, 1632, 1638, 1660, 1662, 1668, 1688, 1702, 1710, 1713, 1714, 1724, 1725, 1739, 1741, 1745, 1755, 1761, 1766, 1783, 1784 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Kite History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kite Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Kite has appeared include Kyte, Kite, Keyt, Keyte, Kight, Kyteson and others.

Early Notables of the Kite family

Distinguished members of the family include

His nephew, Francis Kett (c.1547-1589), was an Anglican clergyman from Wymondham, Norfolk, burned for heresy; and Sir Robert Kite, was Sheriff of London for 1761 and Lord Mayor of London for 1766

Kite Ranking

In the United States, the name Kite is the 5,442^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Kite family to Ireland

Some of the Kite family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 165 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kite migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Kite arrived in North America very early:

Kite Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Kite, who landed in Virginia in 1653 7
John Kite, who settled in Virginia in 1656
Ann Kite who settled in Virginia in 1660
William Kite, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 7

Kite Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anne Kite, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 7
Mary Kite, who landed in Virginia in 1703 7
Patience Kite, who settled in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1718
Charles and James Kite, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1773
James Kite, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kite Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

E Kite, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
John Kite, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1871 7

Kite migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Kite Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Kite, English convict who was convicted in Hereford, Herefordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. William Kite, English convict who was convicted in Hereford, Herefordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Blenheim" on 11th March 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
George Kite, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840 10
Mary Kite, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840 10
Joseph Kite, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kite migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Kite Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Kite, aged 25, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
Pricilla Kite, aged 18, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
Elizabeth Kite, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
Mr. William Kite, (b. 1817), aged 25, British agricultural labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 11
Mrs. Pricilla Kite, (b. 1824), aged 18, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kite (post 1700) +

Charles Kite (d. 1811), English medical writer, member of the corporation of surgeons in London
William Kite (b. 1825), English 19th-century circus performer, best known as being the "Mr. Kite," inspiration for the Beatles song "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!"
William Frederick Kite (1921-1999), English highly decorated British Army soldier
Ross Ernest Kite (1931-2004), Australian rugby league player who represented Australia (1956-1957)
Brent Kite (b. 1981), Australian rugby league player from Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Thomas Oliver "Tom" Kite Jr. (b. 1949), American PGA Champion Golfer, winner of 19 PGA Tour victories

Historic Events for the Kite family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Alfred Kite, British Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 12

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blenheim
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAJASTHAN 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Rajasthan.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html