NameCensus.

UK surname

Keast

An English place surname derived from a location in Cornwall, England.

In the 1881 census there were 879 people recorded with the Keast surname, ranking it #4,315 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 994, ranked #5,829, down from #4,315 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Erme, London parishes and St Clement. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keast is 1,032 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.1%.

1881 census count

879

Ranked #4,315

Modern count

994

2016, ranked #5,829

Peak year

2010

1,032 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keast had 879 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,315 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 994 in 2016, ranked #5,829.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 939 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Keast surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keast surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Keast 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 590 #4,332
1861 historical 436 #5,907
1881 historical 879 #4,315
1891 historical 724 #5,456
1901 historical 885 #5,205
1911 historical 939 #4,779
1997 modern 973 #5,621
1998 modern 999 #5,679
1999 modern 1,027 #5,593
2000 modern 1,008 #5,655
2001 modern 999 #5,582
2002 modern 1,021 #5,603
2003 modern 977 #5,699
2004 modern 989 #5,648
2005 modern 967 #5,685
2006 modern 959 #5,748
2007 modern 955 #5,830
2008 modern 960 #5,831
2009 modern 1,004 #5,747
2010 modern 1,032 #5,725
2011 modern 1,020 #5,728
2012 modern 956 #5,941
2013 modern 1,005 #5,797
2014 modern 1,003 #5,846
2015 modern 980 #5,907
2016 modern 994 #5,829

Geography

Back to top

Where Keasts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Erme, London parishes, St Clement, Kenwyn, Tregavethan and Liskeard, St Cleer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 St Erme Cornwall
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Clement Cornwall
4 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall
5 Liskeard, St Cleer Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 033 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 067 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 070 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Keast

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Keast

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Keast surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Keast household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Keast is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Keast is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Keast falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Keast 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 Keast, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Keast

The surname Keast originates from the English county of Cornwall, where it was first recorded in the late 16th century. The name is derived from the Cornish word "keas," meaning a grove or thicket of trees, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near or owned a wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Keast surname can be found in the parish records of St. Columb Minor, Cornwall, in the year 1595. The name appears as "Keast" in this record, suggesting that the spelling has remained relatively consistent over time.

In the 17th century, the Keast family seems to have been concentrated in the Cornish parishes of St. Columb Major, St. Enoder, and St. Mawgan-in-Kerrier. Notable individuals from this period include William Keast, who was born in 1634 in St. Columb Major, and John Keast, born in 1652 in St. Enoder.

As the Keast family spread throughout Cornwall and beyond, variations in spelling began to appear, such as Keaste, Keist, and Keyst. However, the predominant spelling remained Keast.

One of the most notable individuals bearing this surname was Sir John Keast, a 19th-century English naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1792 in Kingsbridge, Devon, and rose to the rank of Admiral before his death in 1865.

Another prominent figure was Richard Keast, a Cornish mining engineer who played a significant role in the development of the Cornish mining industry in the 19th century. He was born in 1819 in Redruth, Cornwall, and his contributions to mining technology and safety practices were widely recognized.

In the realm of literature, John Keast Hosken was a notable Cornish writer and historian who published works on the history and folklore of Cornwall in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in 1865 in St. Enoder, Cornwall, and his writings provide valuable insights into the cultural heritage of the region.

Moving into the 20th century, Sir Herbert Keast was a prominent Australian public servant and diplomat. Born in 1907 in Adelaide, South Australia, he served as the Australian Ambassador to the United States from 1951 to 1956 and played a significant role in strengthening diplomatic ties between the two countries.

While the Keast surname may have originated in Cornwall, it has since spread across the globe, with notable bearers emerging in various fields, from military service to mining, literature, and diplomacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Keast families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keast 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. Cornwall leads with 624 Keasts recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.06x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 624 64.06x
Devon 72 4.02x
Middlesex 56 0.65x
Surrey 33 0.79x
Hampshire 17 0.96x
Lancashire 17 0.17x
Glamorgan 16 1.07x
Yorkshire 15 0.18x
Dunbartonshire 8 3.46x
Kent 8 0.27x
Royal Navy 5 4.88x
Dorset 3 0.53x
Midlothian 3 0.26x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.08x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Suffolk 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Neot in Cornwall leads with 43 Keasts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1119.79x.

Place Total Index
St Neot 43 1119.79x
St Clement 42 412.98x
Kenwyn 30 117.79x
Clerkenwell London 28 13.79x
Lanreath 24 1445.78x
St Ive 20 320.00x
Camborne 19 47.33x
Plymouth St Andrew 19 13.77x
St Erme 19 1275.17x
St Austell 18 54.07x
Stoke Damerel 17 13.56x
Perranzabuloe 16 190.48x
Paul 15 84.75x
St Germans 15 220.91x
St Allen 14 813.95x
St Columb Major 14 173.27x
Fowey 13 290.83x
Plymouth Charles The 13 16.48x
Saltash 13 172.19x
St Cleer 13 153.85x
Antony 12 127.52x
Liskeard 12 73.62x
Swansea Town 12 9.77x
West Looe 12 466.93x
Illogan 11 42.65x
St Blazey 11 128.66x
St Gluvias Penryn 11 141.03x
Ladock 10 362.32x
Lanivet 10 330.03x
Callington 9 158.45x
Camberwell 9 1.64x
Lambeth 9 1.20x
Probus 9 225.56x
St Agnes 9 65.98x
Barrow In Furness 8 5.76x
Battersea 8 2.53x
Bodmin 8 49.63x
Dalton In Furness 8 20.30x
Davidstow 8 666.67x
Lanteglos 8 177.78x
New Kilpatrick 8 36.38x
St Stephens By Saltash 8 190.48x
Veryan 8 212.20x
Gwennap 7 38.11x
Hackney London 7 1.45x
Merther 7 972.22x
St Pancras London 7 1.01x
St Pinnock 7 472.97x
Altarnun 6 176.99x
Calstock 6 31.41x
Egloskerry 6 468.75x
Luxulyan 6 185.19x
Pickering 6 55.92x
Portsea 6 1.74x
Skinningrove 6 114.72x
Talland 6 262.01x
Bermondsey 5 1.95x
Redruth 5 18.15x
Royal Navy 5 5.71x
Sithney 5 50.81x
St Hilary 5 176.68x
Aberdare 4 3.89x
Budock 4 54.57x
Cardynham 4 487.80x
Devonport 4 19.44x
Kingston 4 161.94x
Lamorran 4 1481.48x
Menheniot 4 99.01x
St Erth 4 67.80x
St Teath 4 68.14x
Tywardreath 4 63.90x
Widley 4 126.98x
Boconnoc 3 379.75x
Malborough 3 42.13x
Portsmouth 3 7.39x
Shaftesbury Holy Trinity 3 103.09x
Sheviock 3 181.82x
St George Hanover Square 3 1.98x
St Winnow 3 90.09x
Westminster St John 3 2.86x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 82
John 61
Samuel 25
Richard 23
James 21
Thomas 21
Joseph 18
Henry 13
George 12
Charles 10
Robert 9
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Edwin 6
Daniel 4
Edward 4
Albert 3
Archibald 3
Benjamin 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Jonathan 3
Brice 2
Ernest 2
Frances 2
Jno. 2
Mark 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Nicholas 2
Saml. 2
Walter 2
Asa 1
Claud 1
E.J. 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Freddy 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Frs. 1
Israel 1
J. 1
Jabez 1
Jas.J. 1
Jeremiah 1
Joe 1
Jonathon 1
Zeckriah 1

FAQ

Keast surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keast surname in 1881?

In 1881, 879 people were recorded with the Keast surname. That placed it at #4,315 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keast surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 994 in 2016. That gives Keast a modern rank of #5,829.

What does the Keast surname mean?

An English place surname derived from a location in Cornwall, England.

What does the Keast map show?

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