NameCensus.

UK surname

Keates

A locational surname derived from Keate, a village in Somerset, England.

In the 1881 census there were 989 people recorded with the Keates surname, ranking it #3,945 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,525, ranked #4,061, down from #3,945 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas, Leek and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keates is 1,636 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.2%.

1881 census count

989

Ranked #3,945

Modern count

1,525

2016, ranked #4,061

Peak year

1999

1,636 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keates had 989 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,945 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,525 in 2016, ranked #4,061.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,632 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Keates surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keates surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keates 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 669 #3,883
1861 historical 480 #5,436
1881 historical 989 #3,945
1891 historical 998 #4,160
1901 historical 1,349 #3,718
1911 historical 1,632 #2,981
1997 modern 1,532 #3,840
1998 modern 1,611 #3,819
1999 modern 1,636 #3,790
2000 modern 1,624 #3,799
2001 modern 1,564 #3,863
2002 modern 1,602 #3,845
2003 modern 1,550 #3,882
2004 modern 1,584 #3,812
2005 modern 1,574 #3,785
2006 modern 1,537 #3,870
2007 modern 1,565 #3,832
2008 modern 1,570 #3,853
2009 modern 1,595 #3,889
2010 modern 1,629 #3,898
2011 modern 1,590 #3,928
2012 modern 1,529 #4,008
2013 modern 1,543 #4,047
2014 modern 1,561 #4,021
2015 modern 1,516 #4,102
2016 modern 1,525 #4,061

Geography

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Where Keates' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas, Leek, London parishes and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands and Northumberland. 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 Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas Berkshire
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 011 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 013 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Northumberland 038 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keates

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keates

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Keates, 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 Keates surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Keates 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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Keates 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

Keates is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Keates 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 Keates is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Keates

The surname Keates is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cyte," which referred to a small cottage or dwelling. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with someone who lived in a small house or hut.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keates can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a John Kete. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have evolved over time, potentially influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors in historical records.

In the 16th century, the name Keates appeared in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. For example, the baptismal record of John Keates in Bradwell, Oxfordshire, dates back to 1567.

There are also several historical references to individuals bearing the Keates surname. One notable figure was Sir Jonathan Keates (1599-1659), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Charles I. Another prominent individual was Sir Richard Keates (1739-1821), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.

In addition to these historical figures, the Keates surname has been associated with several notable writers and poets. One of the most famous was John Keates (1795-1821), an English Romantic poet whose works include "Ode on a Grecian Urn," "Ode to a Nightingale," and the unfinished epic "Hyperion." Although his surname was spelled differently, it is believed to have originated from the same root.

Another literary figure was Henry Keates (1825-1898), an English novelist and travel writer who authored works such as "The Falcon Family" and "Tent Life in Tigerland." He was also a close friend of the famous novelist Charles Dickens.

Furthermore, the Keates surname has been connected to various place names throughout England. For instance, there is a village called Keates Cottages in Worcestershire, which may have derived its name from the Old English word "cyte," further reinforcing the potential origins of the surname.

While the Keates surname has experienced various spellings and regional variations over the centuries, it has maintained a presence in historical records and has been associated with notable individuals in various fields, spanning law, literature, politics, and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keates families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keates 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. Staffordshire leads with 257 Keates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.01x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 257 8.01x
Middlesex 146 1.54x
Wiltshire 87 10.34x
Surrey 63 1.36x
Berkshire 62 8.68x
Sussex 50 3.12x
Lancashire 47 0.42x
Somerset 46 3.00x
Hampshire 23 1.18x
Kent 23 0.71x
Essex 19 1.01x
Glamorgan 19 1.15x
Gloucestershire 16 0.86x
Leicestershire 15 1.42x
Dorset 14 2.24x
Devon 12 0.61x
Derbyshire 10 0.67x
Worcestershire 10 0.81x
Yorkshire 10 0.11x
Cheshire 9 0.43x
Denbighshire 7 1.95x
Warwickshire 7 0.29x
Buckinghamshire 6 1.04x
Westmorland 6 2.87x
Herefordshire 3 0.77x
Northamptonshire 2 0.22x
Oxfordshire 2 0.34x
Rutland 2 2.86x
East Lothian 1 0.79x
Hertfordshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leek Lowe in Staffordshire leads with 71 Keates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 166.24x.

Place Total Index
Leek Lowe 71 166.24x
Cheadle 60 389.11x
Stoke Upon Trent 43 12.63x
Abingdon St Helen 39 186.87x
St Pancras London 34 4.44x
Trowbridge 32 86.07x
Westbury 25 127.36x
Islington London 20 2.17x
Walsall Foreign 18 10.85x
South Bersted 15 109.97x
Frome 14 38.23x
Willenhall 14 23.28x
Hackney London 13 2.44x
Bradford 12 22.71x
Sutton 11 32.81x
Wednesfield 11 23.28x
Richmond 10 15.40x
Battersea 9 2.57x
Burslem 9 9.79x
Camberwell 9 1.48x
Chichester St Pancras 9 187.89x
Kensington London 9 1.70x
Leyton 9 27.83x
Llanwonno 9 15.13x
Belgrave 8 33.61x
Lambeth 8 0.96x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 8 64.88x
Bisham 7 305.68x
Chirk 7 99.01x
Dover St Mary Virgin 7 22.29x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 3.65x
Holdenhurst 7 13.69x
Leicester St Margaret 7 2.72x
Leyton Low 7 18.34x
Llantrisant 7 16.77x
North Bradley 7 114.01x
St Dionis Backchurch 7 1014.49x
Stafford St Mary 7 15.40x
Yardley 7 22.03x
Brighton 6 1.85x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.67x
Finchley 6 16.46x
Little Sutton 6 212.77x
Overton 6 128.48x
Paddington London 6 1.72x
Sidlesham 6 194.17x
St Luke London 6 3.93x
St Marylebone London 6 1.18x
West Ashton 6 600.00x
Belper 5 17.32x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 2.85x
Cannock 5 8.93x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 2.79x
Cookham 5 22.46x
Croydon 5 1.94x
Cullompton 5 57.87x
Devizes St John 5 79.11x
Everton 5 1.39x
Keynsham 5 45.50x
Lewisham 5 2.89x
Liverpool 5 0.73x
Manchester 5 0.99x
Newington 5 1.42x
Reading St Giles 5 7.14x
Salford 5 1.51x
Shoreditch London 5 1.21x
Speldhurst 5 30.27x
Spetisbury 5 289.02x
Bermondsey 4 1.41x
Bradford On Avon 4 14.85x
Burton Upon Trent 4 5.33x
Claylane 4 19.32x
Hurst 4 42.83x
Southampton St Mary 4 3.26x
Stretford 4 6.44x
Strickland Roger 4 283.69x
Titteworth 4 81.14x
Upton Cum Chalvey 4 17.46x
Westbury On Trym 4 6.33x
Ealing 3 3.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 66
George 43
James 38
John 34
Charles 31
Thomas 26
Henry 23
Arthur 18
Edward 17
Albert 11
Frederick 11
Alfred 10
Richard 9
Harry 8
Samuel 8
Joseph 7
Robert 7
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Tom 5
Walter 5
Francis 4
Herbert 4
Ebenezer 3
Edmund 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Ambrose 2
Archibald 2
Clifford 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Hugh 2
Percy 2
Phillip 2
Saml. 2
Willm. 2
Absolom 1
Alfd. 1
Beham 1
Benjamin 1
Benjiman 1
Edgar 1
Edwd.E. 1
Elijah 1
Enoch 1
Jas. 1
Worthy 1

FAQ

Keates surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keates surname in 1881?

In 1881, 989 people were recorded with the Keates surname. That placed it at #3,945 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keates surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,525 in 2016. That gives Keates a modern rank of #4,061.

What does the Keates surname mean?

A locational surname derived from Keate, a village in Somerset, England.

What does the Keates map show?

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