NameCensus.

UK surname

Keat

Originally a habitational surname from a place name in Normandy, France.

In the 1881 census there were 279 people recorded with the Keat surname, ranking it #10,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 252, ranked #16,699, down from #10,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Teath, Portsmouth, Portsea and Harwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keat is 323 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.7%.

1881 census count

279

Ranked #10,230

Modern count

252

2016, ranked #16,699

Peak year

1911

323 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keat had 279 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016, ranked #16,699.
  • 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.

Keat surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keat surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keat 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 208 #10,107
1861 historical 206 #11,725
1881 historical 279 #10,230
1891 historical 307 #10,914
1901 historical 278 #12,252
1911 historical 323 #10,842
1997 modern 273 #14,417
1998 modern 268 #14,978
1999 modern 269 #15,040
2000 modern 275 #14,757
2001 modern 262 #15,034
2002 modern 276 #14,794
2003 modern 269 #14,855
2004 modern 281 #14,489
2005 modern 263 #15,139
2006 modern 259 #15,370
2007 modern 261 #15,444
2008 modern 256 #15,817
2009 modern 261 #15,926
2010 modern 263 #16,205
2011 modern 259 #16,237
2012 modern 267 #15,791
2013 modern 264 #16,191
2014 modern 267 #16,161
2015 modern 267 #16,050
2016 modern 252 #16,699

Geography

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Where Keats are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Teath, Portsmouth, Portsea, Harwell, St Kew and Aston Tirrold. 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 Teath Cornwall
2 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
3 Harwell Berkshire
4 St Kew Cornwall
5 Aston Tirrold Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 003 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keat

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keat

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Keat, 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 Keat surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Keat 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Keat is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Keat is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Keat falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Keat

The surname KEAT originated in England, with its earliest known origins dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "cyte" or "cete," meaning a small hut or cottage. Some scholars believe the name may also be linked to the Old English word "ceat," meaning a small parcel of land.

The name KEAT was most prevalent in the counties of Devon and Somerset in the southwestern part of England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Assize Rolls of Somerset, where a Walter Ket was mentioned in 1268. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals with the name, such as Roger Ket and William Ket, both from Somerset.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Kett, Kete, and Kette. The Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1341 mention a John Ket, while the Court Rolls of Winslow in Buckinghamshire record a Thomas Kette in 1347. This variation in spelling was common during this period and reflects the regional dialects and phonetic variations of the time.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname KEAT was Robert Ket (c. 1492-1549), a Norfolk tanner who led a rebellion against the enclosure of common lands in 1549, known as Ket's Rebellion. Although the uprising was ultimately suppressed, Ket's actions highlighted the plight of the rural poor and the tensions surrounding land ownership during the Tudor period.

During the 17th century, the name KEAT gained prominence with the birth of John Keats (1595-1662), an English Anglican priest and author. He was a renowned scholar and served as the Vicar of Bradford in Yorkshire.

The most famous bearer of the surname was undoubtedly the Romantic poet John Keats (1795-1821). Born in London, Keats is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in English literature. His works, such as "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "La Belle Dame sans Merci," have been celebrated for their vivid imagery and emotional depth.

Other notable individuals with the surname KEAT include Henry Keat (1755-1807), an English artist and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural prints, and Sir John Keats (1835-1924), a British naval officer who served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Station from 1901 to 1904.

Throughout its history, the surname KEAT has been associated with various places, including Keat's House in Devon, which was once the home of a branch of the Keat family, and Keat's Farm in Somerset, which dates back to the 16th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keat families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keat 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 136 Keats recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.98x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 136 43.98x
Middlesex 34 1.24x
Berkshire 24 11.71x
Yorkshire 14 0.52x
Hampshire 13 2.32x
Devon 10 1.76x
Lancashire 10 0.31x
Stirlingshire 9 8.93x
Surrey 6 0.45x
Durham 4 0.49x
Kent 4 0.43x
Somerset 4 0.91x
Staffordshire 3 0.33x
Sussex 3 0.65x
Warwickshire 3 0.44x
Glamorgan 1 0.21x
Isle of Man 1 1.97x
Norfolk 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Teath in Cornwall leads with 37 Keats recorded in 1881 and an index of 1989.25x.

Place Total Index
St Teath 37 1989.25x
St Kew 19 1844.66x
Aston Tirrold 14 4827.59x
Lanteglos 12 839.16x
Portsea 11 10.03x
St Endellion 11 1028.04x
Muiravonside 9 351.56x
Blisland 8 1538.46x
Harwell 8 1052.63x
Lanivet 8 833.33x
Lanlivery 8 615.38x
Little Petherick 7 3500.00x
St Neot 7 573.77x
Islington London 6 2.27x
Kensington London 6 3.95x
Paddington London 6 5.97x
Battersea 5 4.98x
Bowling 5 18.65x
East Stonehouse 5 44.64x
Liverpool 5 2.54x
Shoreditch London 5 4.22x
St Minver 5 531.91x
Ashburton 4 147.06x
Auckland St Andrew 4 186.05x
Eston 4 67.91x
Minster 4 952.38x
Nettlecombe 4 1428.57x
Birmingham 3 1.31x
Cuby 3 2142.86x
Deptford St Paul 3 4.17x
Great Stanmore 3 243.90x
Hastings Holy Trinity 3 88.50x
Manchester 3 2.06x
Stoke Newington London 3 14.10x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 3.07x
Alverstoke 2 9.87x
Bodmin 2 39.06x
Clerkenwell London 2 3.10x
Hornsey 2 5.79x
Luxulyan 2 194.17x
Morley 2 14.21x
Tilehurst 2 48.31x
Bishop Wilton Cum 1 192.31x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.82x
Chertsey 1 11.63x
Dean Prior 1 344.83x
Fowey 1 70.42x
Heston 1 11.03x
Lee 1 7.39x
Leeds 1 0.65x
Menheniot 1 78.13x
Norwich St John 1 263.16x
Onchan 1 6.84x
Royton 1 10.09x
St Mary Magdalene 1 44.05x
Windle 1 5.48x
York Marygate St Olave 1 96.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 11
Jane 10
Ellen 6
Annie 5
Agnes 4
Ann 4
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Grace 3
Isabella 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Bessie 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Louisa 2
Sarah 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Drusilla 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth 1
Elsie 1
Eveline 1
G.H.D. 1
G.L.D. 1
Isabel 1
Janie 1
Josephine 1
Leah 1
Libby 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Linny 1
Margaret 1
Mariah 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Millicent 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 14
Henry 11
Thomas 7
Charles 6
George 6
Joseph 6
Samuel 6
James 5
Edward 4
Willm. 4
Francis 3
Harry 3
Frederick 2
Jeremiah 2
Joe 2
Nicholas 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Saml. 2
Sydney 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Charley 1
Constantine 1
Daniel 1
E. 1
Edwin 1
Enos 1
Errin 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Julian 1
Levi 1
Nathaniel 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
R.D.M. 1
Reuben 1
Wiliam 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Keat surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keat surname in 1881?

In 1881, 279 people were recorded with the Keat surname. That placed it at #10,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keat surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016. That gives Keat a modern rank of #16,699.

What does the Keat surname mean?

Originally a habitational surname from a place name in Normandy, France.

What does the Keat map show?

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