UK surname
An anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ceiteach or Ceitheach, referring to someone living near a boggy area or marshland.
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Keath surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lambourn, Elstead and Levisham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keath is 144 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 78.7%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1861
144 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Keath surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Keath surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 117 | #15,456 |
| 1861 | historical | 144 | #15,817 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 65 | #28,660 |
| 1901 | historical | 56 | #27,952 |
| 1911 | historical | 42 | #28,691 |
| 1997 | modern | 24 | #35,376 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 22 | #35,725 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 16 | #36,439 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 14 | #37,041 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lambourn, Elstead, Levisham, London parishes and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lambourn | Berkshire |
| 2 | Elstead | Surrey |
| 3 | Levisham | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Keath surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Keath, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Keath surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Keath household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Keath is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Keath is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Keath, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname KEATH is of English origin, first appearing in records in the 16th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "cæth," meaning "bold" or "hardy." The name was initially concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the KEATH surname is found in the parish records of St. Michael's Church in Aughton, Lancashire, where a John Keath was baptized in 1582. The name also appears in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1673, which listed households subject to a tax based on the number of hearths or fireplaces they had.
In the 17th century, the KEATH surname was associated with the village of Keighley in West Yorkshire, which was formerly spelled "Kigheley" or "Keighley." It is possible that some branches of the KEATH family took their name from this place name.
A notable individual bearing the KEATH surname was Robert Keath (1637-1718), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Staveley in Derbyshire. He published several religious works, including "The Glorious Presence of Christ in His Churches" (1691) and "The Christian Husbandman" (1701).
Another prominent figure with the KEATH surname was John Keath (1759-1838), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Vice Admiral and was knighted for his service.
In the 19th century, the KEATH surname was represented by James Keath (1811-1882), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the cotton trade. He was a prominent figure in Glasgow and contributed to the establishment of several educational institutions in the city.
The name KEATH also appears in historical records in the United States, where it was likely brought by English immigrants. One notable American bearing this surname was William Keath (1830-1912), a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of Jonesborough in 1864.
While the KEATH surname is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a long and rich history spanning several centuries, with notable individuals in various fields contributing to its legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keath surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cambridgeshire leads with 28 Keaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.44x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridgeshire | 28 | 60.44x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 1.91x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 1.50x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.97x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 3.33x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 3.04x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.48x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.21x |
| Dorset | 1 | 2.08x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 1.76x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Abington in Cambridgeshire leads with 15 Keaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 21428.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Little Abington | 15 | 21428.57x |
| Chesterton | 9 | 629.37x |
| Hackney London | 6 | 14.63x |
| Levisham | 6 | 20000.00x |
| Whiston | 6 | 882.35x |
| Burnley | 5 | 68.40x |
| Fordingbridge | 5 | 609.76x |
| Limehouse London | 3 | 37.36x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 3 | 84.75x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.82x |
| Soham | 2 | 200.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 5.12x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 14.51x |
| Burwell | 1 | 178.57x |
| Drumoak | 1 | 434.78x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 5.55x |
| Hawsker Cum Stainsacre | 1 | 416.67x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 11.68x |
| Portland | 1 | 38.76x |
| St Stephens By Saltash | 1 | 277.78x |
| Stretham | 1 | 303.03x |
| West Greenock | 1 | 9.82x |
| Wigan | 1 | 8.24x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Keath surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Keath surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Keath households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Ag Labr | 4 |
| Dressmaker | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Farmer Son | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Retired Lodger | 2 |
| (D) Cook | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Bricklayers Laborer | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Colliery Carpenter | 1 |
| Cook (Domestic Servt.) | 1 |
| Cordwainer | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Farmer Daur | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Genl Servant | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Lodg Ho) | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labrs Wife | 1 |
| Ladies Maid Domestic | 1 |
| Private In The Army | 1 |
| Provision Dealer | 1 |
| Public House Manager | 1 |
| Schoolmistress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Keath surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Keath a modern rank of #36,998.
An anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ceiteach or Ceitheach, referring to someone living near a boggy area or marshland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Keath bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.