NameCensus.

UK surname

Kean

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O Catháin," meaning "descendant of Cathán," a personal name meaning "battle."

In the 1881 census there were 2,026 people recorded with the Kean surname, ranking it #2,174 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,973, ranked #3,261, down from #2,174 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Kilbride and Seamill, Stevenston Hayocks and Rothesay Town.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kean is 2,026 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.6%.

1881 census count

2,026

Ranked #2,174

Modern count

1,973

2016, ranked #3,261

Peak year

1881

2,026 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kean had 2,026 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,174 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,973 in 2016, ranked #3,261.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,026 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Kean surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kean surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kean 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 1,624 #1,771
1861 historical 1,737 #1,657
1881 historical 2,026 #2,174
1891 historical 1,830 #2,511
1901 historical 1,904 #2,775
1911 historical 985 #4,600
1997 modern 1,950 #3,116
1998 modern 1,966 #3,202
1999 modern 1,952 #3,239
2000 modern 1,963 #3,213
2001 modern 1,896 #3,245
2002 modern 1,937 #3,254
2003 modern 1,885 #3,261
2004 modern 1,898 #3,243
2005 modern 1,855 #3,275
2006 modern 1,850 #3,299
2007 modern 1,875 #3,290
2008 modern 1,897 #3,281
2009 modern 1,966 #3,261
2010 modern 2,006 #3,270
2011 modern 1,965 #3,281
2012 modern 1,943 #3,260
2013 modern 1,957 #3,302
2014 modern 1,993 #3,271
2015 modern 1,989 #3,255
2016 modern 1,973 #3,261

Geography

Back to top

Where Keans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Manchester, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Kilbride and Seamill, Stevenston Hayocks, Rothesay Town, Saltcoats North East and Ardrossan North East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Kilbride and Seamill North Ayrshire
2 Stevenston Hayocks North Ayrshire
3 Rothesay Town Argyll and Bute
4 Saltcoats North East North Ayrshire
5 Ardrossan North East North Ayrshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kean

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kean

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kean, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Kean surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kean household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kean is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kean is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kean falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kean 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kean

The surname Kean has its roots in Ireland, tracing back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "cian," meaning "ancient" or "distant." The name was initially found in County Galway, where it was associated with the ancient territories of Cenél Áedha and Cenél Fearmaic.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention a notable figure named Donnchadh Kean, who lived in the late 14th century and was a member of the Uí Briúin Seóla dynasty.

In the 16th century, the Kean family played a significant role in the Gaelic Irish resistance against the English Tudor conquest of Ireland. A notable figure was Conn Kean, who fought alongside the Earl of Desmond during the Desmond Rebellions (1579-1583) against Queen Elizabeth I.

The name Kean also appears in various historical records, such as the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which document land grants and appointments made by the English monarchs in Ireland. One such record from 1605 mentions a land grant to Dermot Kean in County Galway.

As the centuries progressed, the Kean name spread beyond Ireland. In the 18th century, Edmund Kean (1787-1833) became one of the most renowned English actors of his time, renowned for his performances in Shakespearean tragedies.

Another notable figure was Charles John Kean (1811-1868), an English actor and theatre manager who was the son of Edmund Kean. He was renowned for his lavish productions of Shakespeare's plays and his efforts to preserve historic theatres in London.

In the field of literature, the Kean surname is associated with the Irish-born American writer Mary Kean (1845-1920), who wrote several notable works, including "The Hungarians of To-day" and "The Homesteaders."

Thomas Kean (1927-2022) was an American politician who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. He played a prominent role in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks as the chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Kean, showcasing its rich heritage and presence across various fields and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Kean families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kean 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. Lanarkshire leads with 481 Keans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.52x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 481 7.52x
Lancashire 290 1.24x
Middlesex 209 1.06x
Renfrewshire 165 10.76x
Ayrshire 115 7.77x
Yorkshire 75 0.38x
Surrey 50 0.52x
Staffordshire 49 0.73x
Cheshire 48 1.10x
Dunbartonshire 42 7.90x
Angus 41 2.24x
Kent 32 0.47x
Kincardineshire 30 12.45x
Fife 29 2.48x
Midlothian 29 1.09x
Kirkcudbrightshire 27 9.43x
Hampshire 22 0.54x
Perthshire 22 2.48x
Shropshire 20 1.17x
Derbyshire 18 0.58x
Durham 17 0.29x
Buteshire 16 13.35x
Gloucestershire 16 0.41x
Somerset 16 0.50x
Warwickshire 15 0.30x
Argyllshire 14 2.54x
Northamptonshire 12 0.64x
Wigtownshire 12 4.57x
Dumfriesshire 11 2.52x
Stirlingshire 10 1.37x
Glamorgan 9 0.26x
Northumberland 9 0.31x
Aberdeenshire 8 0.44x
Berkshire 8 0.54x
Essex 8 0.20x
Berwickshire 6 2.50x
Lincolnshire 6 0.19x
Devon 5 0.12x
Wiltshire 4 0.23x
Worcestershire 4 0.15x
Cumberland 3 0.18x
Hertfordshire 3 0.22x
Selkirkshire 3 1.68x
Channel Islands 2 0.34x
Cornwall 2 0.09x
Sussex 2 0.06x
Bedfordshire 1 0.10x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.08x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.12x
Dorset 1 0.08x
East Lothian 1 0.38x
Flintshire 1 0.19x
Leicestershire 1 0.05x
Morayshire 1 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.42x
Suffolk 1 0.04x
West Lothian 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 140 Keans recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.32x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 140 12.32x
Barony 139 8.58x
Govan 115 7.27x
West Greenock 41 14.90x
Liverpool 37 2.60x
Dundee 32 4.68x
Wolverhampton 31 6.04x
Abbey 25 10.69x
Neilston 25 32.48x
West Kilbride 24 170.09x
Islington London 23 1.20x
New Monkland 22 11.63x
Ardrossan 21 40.98x
Toxteth Park 21 2.64x
Old Kilpatrick 20 31.84x
Warrington 20 7.19x
Manchester 18 1.71x
Maryhill 18 14.37x
Tonge 18 36.55x
Bethnal Green London 17 1.98x
Kelton 17 72.25x
Paisley High Church 17 13.93x
St Marylebone London 17 1.61x
St Pancras London 17 1.07x
Oldham 16 2.11x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 1.41x
Kensington London 15 1.36x
Kilmarnock 15 8.51x
Shoreditch London 15 1.75x
East Greenock 14 9.67x
Banchory Devenick 13 57.78x
Kirkdale 13 3.29x
Kirkmichael 13 96.30x
Bedford 12 24.44x
Birmingham 12 0.72x
Kirkmaiden 12 72.20x
Lanark 12 23.31x
Newton 12 6.63x
Sheffield 12 1.92x
Broughton In Salford 11 5.12x
Chelsea London 11 1.85x
Hulme 11 2.24x
Middle Greenock 11 26.29x
Salford 11 1.59x
Tottenham 11 3.49x
Bedminster 10 3.34x
Cummertrees 10 134.95x
St Monance 10 71.53x
Tranmere 10 6.23x
Hendon 9 12.64x
Holy Trinity 9 1.91x
Leeds 9 0.81x
New Kilpatrick 9 17.80x
Newton On Ayr 9 20.30x
Parr 9 10.72x
Roath 9 5.75x
Cheetham 8 4.57x
Dalmellington 8 18.37x
Eastwood 8 8.47x
Fowlis Wester 8 105.68x
Kilbirnie 8 22.50x
Kildalton 8 55.02x
Milton In Gravesend 8 7.90x
Northampton St Sepulchre 8 8.45x
Perth St Pauls 8 38.91x
Portsea 8 1.01x
Rothesay 8 13.78x
Tewkesbury 8 23.11x
Widnes 8 4.72x
Aberdour 7 59.32x
Clapham 7 2.83x
Comberbach 7 333.33x
Hartford 7 70.85x
Laurencekirk 7 50.14x
Middleton In Oldham 7 9.94x
Old Monkland 7 2.76x
Saline 7 108.02x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 7 37.08x
Shrewsbury St Chad 7 11.67x
St George Hanover Square 7 2.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 67
Elizabeth 39
Sarah 27
Ellen 23
Ann 18
Margaret 18
Jane 17
Alice 16
Emma 16
Eliza 15
Annie 13
Catherine 13
Emily 12
Agnes 8
Florence 8
Isabella 8
Martha 8
Hannah 7
Kate 7
Lucy 6
Bridget 5
Caroline 5
Eleanor 5
Elizth. 5
Louisa 5
Harriet 4
Jessie 4
Rose 4
Anne 3
Charlotte 3
Esther 3
Julia 3
Lizzie 3
Maria 3
Susannah 3
Winifred 3
Amy 2
Anna 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Georgina 2
Helen 2
Janet 2
Marrion 2
Rosina 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Teresa 2
Violet 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 53
John 52
James 49
Thomas 36
Charles 22
George 19
Henry 19
Patrick 13
Richard 11
Alfred 9
Edward 9
Michael 9
Frederick 7
Joseph 7
Peter 7
Arthur 6
Robert 6
Albert 5
David 5
Martin 5
Daniel 4
Hugh 4
Samuel 4
Thos. 4
Walter 4
Jno. 3
Lewis 3
Alexander 2
Archibald 2
Bernard 2
Chas. 2
Edmond 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Jerimiah 2
Nicholas 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Chas.Hy. 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Elliott 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jacob 1

FAQ

Kean surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kean surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,026 people were recorded with the Kean surname. That placed it at #2,174 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kean surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,973 in 2016. That gives Kean a modern rank of #3,261.

What does the Kean surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "O Catháin," meaning "descendant of Cathán," a personal name meaning "battle."

What does the Kean map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kean 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.