NameCensus.

UK surname

Keaney

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Céanaigh, indicating ancestry from Ceanach in County Down.

In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Keaney surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 658, ranked #8,097, up from #23,220 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sunderland, Govan Combination and Coppenhall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hertsmere, Manchester and Stratford-on-Avon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keaney is 675 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 801.4%.

1881 census count

73

Ranked #23,220

Modern count

658

2016, ranked #8,097

Peak year

2014

675 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keaney had 73 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,220 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 658 in 2016, ranked #8,097.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 103 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Keaney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keaney surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Keaney 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 31 #27,734
1861 historical 74 #24,370
1881 historical 73 #23,220
1891 historical 92 #25,109
1901 historical 103 #22,444
1911 historical 50 #27,806
1997 modern 562 #8,527
1998 modern 598 #8,414
1999 modern 606 #8,387
2000 modern 601 #8,412
2001 modern 582 #8,461
2002 modern 598 #8,482
2003 modern 584 #8,491
2004 modern 584 #8,508
2005 modern 597 #8,299
2006 modern 589 #8,395
2007 modern 606 #8,287
2008 modern 631 #8,096
2009 modern 636 #8,208
2010 modern 659 #8,152
2011 modern 644 #8,215
2012 modern 668 #7,896
2013 modern 670 #8,010
2014 modern 675 #8,007
2015 modern 663 #8,063
2016 modern 658 #8,097

Geography

Back to top

Where Keaneys are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Hertsmere, Manchester, Stratford-on-Avon, Possil Park and Barking and Dagenham. 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 Sunderland Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Coppenhall Cheshire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hertsmere 013 Hertsmere
2 Manchester 002 Manchester
3 Stratford-on-Avon 009 Stratford-on-Avon
4 Possil Park Glasgow City
5 Barking and Dagenham 020 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Keaney

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Keaney

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Keaney, 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 Keaney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Keaney 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Keaney is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Keaney 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

Keaney 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 Keaney 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 Keaney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Keaney

The surname Keaney is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name O'Cathain. The name traces its roots back to County Derry in Ulster, Northern Ireland, where it was first recorded in the 12th century.

The name O'Cathain is believed to have originated from the Irish words "cath" meaning battle and "an" meaning a person. It was likely given to someone who was a warrior or a skilled fighter in battle. Over time, the spelling evolved to Keaney, Keany, and other variations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keaney can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1201, the annals mention a "Gilla-na-naem O'Cathain" who was involved in a conflict with the O'Neills, a prominent Irish clan.

In the 16th century, the Keaney family was prominent in the Barony of Keenaght, which was part of County Derry. This area is believed to be the ancestral homeland of the Keaneys, and the name of the barony is likely derived from the surname itself.

Notable individuals with the surname Keaney include:

1. William Keaney (1849-1925), an Irish-American businessman and politician who served as Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey. 2. Michael Keaney (1891-1956), an Irish hurler who played for the Kilkenny senior hurling team and won three All-Ireland medals. 3. Gertrude Keaney (1899-1967), an American professional baseball player who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. 4. John Keaney (1881-1946), an Irish-American labor leader who served as the president of the United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers International Union. 5. Patrick Keaney (1927-2014), an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the Cavan senior football team and won an All-Ireland medal in 1952.

While the name Keaney has been documented in historical records and annals, its presence in major works like the Domesday Book or other ancient manuscripts is uncertain. However, the surname's deep roots in Irish history and its evolution from the original Gaelic form O'Cathain are well-established.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Keaney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keaney 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 25 Keaneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.86x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 25 10.86x
Yorkshire 15 2.13x
Cheshire 6 3.82x
Angus 5 7.58x
Selkirkshire 5 77.64x
Huntingdonshire 4 28.29x
Lancashire 3 0.36x
Midlothian 3 3.15x
Warwickshire 3 1.67x
Cumberland 1 1.63x
Hampshire 1 0.69x
Renfrewshire 1 1.81x
Sussex 1 0.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 11 Keaneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.32x.

Place Total Index
Govan 11 19.32x
Normanton 9 424.53x
Barony 6 10.30x
Monks Coppenhall 6 101.18x
Dundee 5 20.31x
Galashiels 5 210.08x
Maryhill 5 110.86x
Halifax 4 38.61x
Huntingdon All Sts 4 4000.00x
Birmingham 3 5.01x
Edinburgh Old Church 2 259.74x
Wakefield 2 36.90x
Abbey 1 11.88x
Alverstoke 1 18.94x
Blackburn 1 4.45x
Crosscanonby 1 49.26x
Dalserf 1 43.48x
Ditchling 1 303.03x
Douglas 1 151.52x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 2.61x
Everton 1 3.71x
Glasgow 1 2.45x
Liverpool 1 1.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Rose 2
Amelia 1
Bridget 1
Corily 1
Lillian 1
Margt 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Keaney households.

FAQ

Keaney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keaney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Keaney surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keaney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 658 in 2016. That gives Keaney a modern rank of #8,097.

What does the Keaney surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Céanaigh, indicating ancestry from Ceanach in County Down.

What does the Keaney map show?

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