NameCensus.

UK surname

Kealey

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Céileachair" meaning "descendant of the comrade or recruit".

In the 1881 census there were 180 people recorded with the Kealey surname, ranking it #13,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 476, ranked #10,360, up from #13,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, London parishes and Lincoln St Swithin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Selby and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kealey is 489 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 164.4%.

1881 census count

180

Ranked #13,735

Modern count

476

2016, ranked #10,360

Peak year

2013

489 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kealey had 180 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 476 in 2016, ranked #10,360.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 323 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Kealey surname distribution map

The map shows where the Kealey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Kealey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kealey over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 137 #13,812
1861 historical 180 #13,057
1881 historical 180 #13,735
1891 historical 215 #14,155
1901 historical 240 #13,461
1911 historical 323 #10,842
1997 modern 410 #10,800
1998 modern 441 #10,560
1999 modern 442 #10,606
2000 modern 443 #10,578
2001 modern 436 #10,500
2002 modern 448 #10,477
2003 modern 418 #10,896
2004 modern 410 #11,077
2005 modern 405 #11,078
2006 modern 412 #10,976
2007 modern 425 #10,837
2008 modern 419 #11,058
2009 modern 432 #11,048
2010 modern 445 #11,002
2011 modern 454 #10,707
2012 modern 469 #10,348
2013 modern 489 #10,195
2014 modern 485 #10,327
2015 modern 476 #10,379
2016 modern 476 #10,360

Geography

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Where Kealeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, London parishes, Lincoln St Swithin and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Selby, Central Bedfordshire and Preston. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lincoln St Swithin Lincolnshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 042 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Selby 010 Selby
3 Central Bedfordshire 008 Central Bedfordshire
4 Preston 009 Preston
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 011 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kealey

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kealey surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kealey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kealey, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Kealey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Kealey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Kealey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kealey is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kealey falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kealey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kealey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kealey

The surname Kealey originated in Ireland, specifically in the northern regions. It is believed to have derived from the Irish Gaelic words "O'Cathail" or "O'Cathaoil," which translate to "the descendant of the battle-warrior." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to a prominent warrior or someone with a military background.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Kealey can be traced back to the 16th century in County Donegal, Ireland. During this period, the name was often spelled as "O'Cathail" or variations such as "O'Cahill" or "O'Caughley." It is possible that the name appeared in some medieval Irish manuscripts or records, but no specific references have been definitively documented.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Patrick O'Cahill, born around 1570 in County Donegal. He was a landowner and prominent figure in the local community. Another noteworthy individual was Brian O'Caughley, born in 1632, who was a renowned poet and storyteller in the Irish language.

In the 18th century, the surname Kealey began to appear more frequently in various records, particularly in Ulster and parts of Connacht. During this time, the spelling "Kealey" became more standardized, possibly due to the influence of the English language and the Anglicization of Irish names.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Kealey was Thomas Kealey (1805-1882), an Irish-born Catholic priest who emigrated to the United States and played a significant role in establishing several parishes and schools in New York City. Another notable figure was John Kealey (1846-1919), a successful businessman and philanthropist from County Mayo, Ireland, who made significant contributions to the local community.

In the 19th century, the Kealey surname also appeared in various parts of England and Scotland, likely due to the migration of Irish families seeking better opportunities. One example is William Kealey (1868-1942), a Scottish-born architect who designed several prominent buildings in Glasgow.

As the centuries passed, the Kealey surname continued to spread across the globe, with bearers of the name making their mark in various fields, from politics and academia to the arts and sciences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kealey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kealey surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 48 Kealeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.30x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 48 2.30x
Middlesex 38 2.16x
Lincolnshire 21 7.48x
Sussex 8 2.70x
Northumberland 7 2.68x
Warwickshire 7 1.58x
Cheshire 6 1.55x
Derbyshire 6 2.18x
Surrey 6 0.70x
Berkshire 5 3.79x
Nottinghamshire 5 2.11x
Staffordshire 4 0.67x
Yorkshire 4 0.23x
Cumberland 3 1.98x
Hertfordshire 3 2.48x
Leicestershire 3 1.54x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.88x
Norfolk 2 0.74x
Devon 1 0.27x
Durham 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 15 Kealeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.37x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 15 15.37x
Everton 9 13.55x
Strubby 8 4705.88x
Wavertree 8 119.94x
Ealing 7 44.61x
Tottington Lower End 7 70.71x
Wallsend 7 84.54x
Openshaw 6 61.48x
Stockport 6 30.08x
Burwash 5 364.96x
Chesterfield 5 48.54x
Manchester 5 5.34x
Worksop 5 71.23x
Clerkenwell London 4 9.65x
Newcastle Under Lyme 4 38.13x
Preston 4 7.18x
Streatham 4 30.70x
Tottenham 4 14.31x
Walden Stubbs 4 4444.44x
Aston 3 2.46x
Birmingham 3 2.03x
Bishop Stortford 3 74.26x
Hammersmith London 3 6.94x
Hannah Cum Hagnaby 3 4285.71x
Newton 3 18.68x
Workington 3 34.64x
Burnham Sutton Cum Burnham 2 1052.63x
East Garston 2 714.29x
Eaton 2 952.38x
Horsington 2 909.09x
Norwood 2 49.88x
St Mark Lincoln 2 333.33x
St Swithin Lincoln 2 45.35x
Ticehurst 2 110.50x
Battersea 1 1.55x
Chalfont St Peter 1 113.64x
Chelsea London 1 1.89x
Devonport 1 23.81x
Eton 1 41.49x
Gainsborough 1 15.11x
Islington London 1 0.59x
Lambeth 1 0.65x
Lambourn 1 76.34x
Leamington Priors 1 9.18x
Leicester St Mary 1 6.36x
Litchurch 1 9.04x
Liverpool 1 0.79x
North Meols 1 4.90x
Over Darwen 1 6.01x
Reading St Giles 1 7.73x
Rotherfield 1 38.31x
Salford 1 1.63x
Sausthorpe 1 1250.00x
South Shields 1 21.51x
Wainfleet All Sts 1 121.95x
Walton On Hill 1 8.86x
Warrington 1 4.05x
White Waltham 1 204.08x
Whitechapel London 1 5.78x
Withern 1 370.37x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kealey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 6
Ann 5
Catherine 5
Alice 4
Margaret 4
Ada 3
Emily 3
Louisa 3
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Jane 2
Agnes 1
Bella 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
E.M. 1
Elizh. 1
Emeline 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Joanna 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
M.H. 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Pricilla 1
Rebecca 1
S.E. 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kealey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 14
John 13
Thomas 10
George 7
James 6
Henry 5
Robert 4
Edward 3
Joseph 3
Patrick 3
Charles 2
Christopher 2
Edmund 2
Martin 2
Michael 2
Tom 2
Adelaide 1
Alfred 1
Bartholomew 1
H. 1
Herbert 1
Mary 1
Omen 1
Osborne 1
Owen 1
Richard 1
Timothy 1
W. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Kealey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kealey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 180 people were recorded with the Kealey surname. That placed it at #13,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kealey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 476 in 2016. That gives Kealey a modern rank of #10,360.

What does the Kealey surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Céileachair" meaning "descendant of the comrade or recruit".

What does the Kealey map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kealey bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.