NameCensus.

UK surname

Keane

Anglicized form of Irish Ó Catháin, meaning "descendant of Cathán," a personal name derived from "cath," meaning "battle."

In the 1881 census there were 689 people recorded with the Keane surname, ranking it #5,250 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,706, ranked #1,175, up from #5,250 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Wakefield and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keane is 5,853 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 728.2%.

1881 census count

689

Ranked #5,250

Modern count

5,706

2016, ranked #1,175

Peak year

2010

5,853 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keane had 689 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,250 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,706 in 2016, ranked #1,175.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,085 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Keane surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keane surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keane 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 339 #6,922
1861 historical 399 #6,428
1881 historical 689 #5,250
1891 historical 766 #5,212
1901 historical 1,010 #4,724
1911 historical 1,085 #4,278
1997 modern 5,288 #1,232
1998 modern 5,493 #1,236
1999 modern 5,511 #1,243
2000 modern 5,486 #1,244
2001 modern 5,341 #1,243
2002 modern 5,534 #1,231
2003 modern 5,388 #1,234
2004 modern 5,336 #1,240
2005 modern 5,371 #1,213
2006 modern 5,398 #1,203
2007 modern 5,492 #1,188
2008 modern 5,529 #1,188
2009 modern 5,723 #1,174
2010 modern 5,853 #1,173
2011 modern 5,760 #1,175
2012 modern 5,510 #1,209
2013 modern 5,655 #1,200
2014 modern 5,757 #1,183
2015 modern 5,701 #1,184
2016 modern 5,706 #1,175

Geography

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Where Keanes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Wakefield, Hammersmith and Fulham, Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 004 Blaenau Gwent
2 Wakefield 034 Wakefield
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 017 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Port Glasgow Mid, East and Central Inverclyde
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 001 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keane

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keane

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Keane surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Keane household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Keane 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

Keane is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Keane falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Keane is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Keane

The surname Keane is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Catháin, which originated in County Tyrone, Ireland. The name derives from the old Irish word 'cath,' meaning battle or warrior.

Ó Catháin is believed to have originated in the 11th century and is historically associated with the ancient Irish territory of Airghialla, located in the modern-day counties of Armagh, Monaghan, and Fermanagh. The name is mentioned in various Irish annals, such as the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Murchadh Ó Catháin, a prominent chieftain who lived in the 12th century. He is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster in the year 1166, where he is referred to as "Ua Cathain."

In the 16th century, the name Keane appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns of Ireland, which were legal documents issued by the English Crown. The name was also found in the Plantation of Ulster records from the early 17th century.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Keane. One of the most famous was John Keane (1781-1844), an Irish-born British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became Governor of St. Lucia and Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Joseph Keane (1839-1918), an American prelate who served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, and later became the Archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa.

In the literary world, John Brendan Keane (1928-2002) was an Irish novelist, playwright, and short story writer known for his works depicting rural life in Ireland, such as "The Field" and "The Bodhrán Makers."

The name Keane has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Keenaghan (Cill Ó gCatháin) in County Armagh and Keenahan (Cill Ó gCatháin) in County Sligo, both of which derive from the Irish Gaelic form of the surname.

Furthermore, the name has been recorded with various spellings throughout history, including Cahan, Cahan, Keahan, and Cahen, among others, reflecting the phonetic variations and regional dialects of Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keane families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keane 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 175 Keanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.17x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 175 2.17x
Middlesex 116 1.71x
Yorkshire 53 0.79x
Surrey 42 1.27x
Lanarkshire 33 1.50x
Kent 26 1.12x
Gloucestershire 21 1.57x
Warwickshire 20 1.17x
Ayrshire 17 3.34x
Renfrewshire 17 3.23x
Hampshire 16 1.15x
Glamorgan 14 1.18x
Midlothian 11 1.21x
Worcestershire 11 1.24x
Flintshire 10 5.47x
Staffordshire 10 0.44x
Cheshire 9 0.60x
Cornwall 8 1.04x
Devon 8 0.57x
Derbyshire 7 0.66x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 7.11x
Royal Navy 7 8.64x
Berkshire 6 1.18x
Durham 6 0.30x
Argyllshire 5 2.64x
Fife 5 1.24x
Sussex 5 0.44x
Monmouthshire 4 0.81x
Northumberland 4 0.40x
Perthshire 4 1.31x
Ross-shire 4 2.14x
Angus 2 0.32x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.73x
Essex 2 0.15x
Wiltshire 2 0.33x
Anglesey 1 0.83x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.24x
Channel Islands 1 0.50x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.55x
Hertfordshire 1 0.21x
Norfolk 1 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 26 Keanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.17x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 26 7.17x
St Pancras London 23 4.20x
Leeds 22 5.78x
Liverpool 17 3.47x
Islington London 15 2.28x
Kensington London 14 3.70x
West Derby 14 5.93x
Govan 13 2.39x
Glasgow 11 2.82x
St George Hanover Square 11 9.18x
West Greenock 11 11.63x
Bootle Cum Linacre 10 15.61x
Dalmellington 10 66.84x
Lambeth 10 1.69x
Battersea 9 3.60x
Habergham Eaves 9 12.21x
Hulme 9 5.34x
Newchurch 9 13.64x
Newland 9 80.29x
Oldham 9 3.46x
St Giles In Fields London 9 26.99x
Birkenhead 8 6.69x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 6.37x
Everton 8 3.11x
Aston 7 1.48x
Barony 7 1.26x
Broughton In Salford 7 9.49x
Chelsea London 7 3.42x
Kelton 7 86.53x
Lewisham 7 5.66x
Llanwonno 7 16.46x
Royal Navy 7 10.11x
Blackburn 6 2.80x
Bowling 6 8.99x
Dalkeith 6 33.39x
Heston 6 26.57x
Minster In Sheppey 6 15.61x
Pontefract 6 41.35x
Reading St Giles 6 11.98x
Salford 6 2.53x
Southampton St Mary 6 6.85x
Spotland 6 6.69x
Stoke 6 38.39x
Stokesley 6 142.86x
Widnes 6 10.31x
Yardley 6 26.41x
Birmingham 5 0.88x
Campbeltown 5 21.90x
Girvan 5 39.15x
Gomersal 5 15.90x
Holywell 5 21.79x
Kings Norton 5 6.28x
Markinch 5 36.60x
Swansea Town 5 5.15x
Tottington Higher End 5 54.47x
Tudhoe 5 28.25x
Walton On Hill 5 11.44x
Warwick St Nicholas 5 39.78x
Wortley In Bramley 5 9.37x
Burslem 4 6.08x
Glossop Dale 4 8.02x
Kirkdale 4 2.95x
Lochwinnoch 4 50.96x
Logie 4 36.53x
Madron Penzance 4 14.29x
Resolis 4 120.12x
Saltash 4 67.00x
St Asaph 4 110.19x
St Clement Danes London 4 28.43x
St Luke London 4 3.67x
Stoke Damerel 4 4.04x
Stretford 4 9.01x
Trevethin 4 8.62x
Clapham 3 3.53x
Edinburgh New 3 42.43x
Harrow 3 28.87x
Kingswinford 3 3.60x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.07x
Portsea 3 1.10x
Wardleworth 3 6.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 52
Elizabeth 19
Margaret 17
Ellen 16
Catherine 12
Alice 10
Annie 9
Bridget 9
Sarah 9
Eliza 7
Emma 7
Susan 7
Anne 6
Jane 6
Julia 6
Maria 4
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Betsey 2
Elen 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Johanna 2
Kate 2
Maggie 2
Margret 2
Maud 2
Nora 2
Pamler 2
Sophia 2
Winifred 2
Betsy 1
Bitheah 1
Bridgett 1
E. 1
E.F. 1
Eleanor 1
Elicia 1
Elisa 1
Florence 1
G. 1
Hanoria 1
Harriett 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 56
Thomas 29
Patrick 20
William 19
James 17
Michael 13
George 9
Charles 8
Arthur 7
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Maurice 4
Peter 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
David 3
Francis 3
Jeremiah 3
Martin 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
G. 2
Morris 2
Percy 2
Timothy 2
Bernard 1
Charlton 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Jas. 1
Gerald 1
Harry 1
Hedley 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
J.M. 1
Lancelot 1
Laurence 1
Lincon 1
Mac 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Maxwell 1
Michal 1

FAQ

Keane surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keane surname in 1881?

In 1881, 689 people were recorded with the Keane surname. That placed it at #5,250 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keane surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,706 in 2016. That gives Keane a modern rank of #1,175.

What does the Keane surname mean?

Anglicized form of Irish Ó Catháin, meaning "descendant of Cathán," a personal name derived from "cath," meaning "battle."

What does the Keane map show?

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