NameCensus.

UK surname

Keddie

A surname derived from a place name in Banffshire, Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 926 people recorded with the Keddie surname, ranking it #4,149 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,030, ranked #5,671, down from #4,149 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Markinch and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tweeddale East Area, Kirkcaldy Gallatown and Sinclairtown and Galashiels North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keddie is 1,104 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.2%.

1881 census count

926

Ranked #4,149

Modern count

1,030

2016, ranked #5,671

Peak year

1901

1,104 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keddie had 926 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,149 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,030 in 2016, ranked #5,671.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,104 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Keddie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keddie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keddie 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 549 #4,612
1861 historical 506 #5,174
1881 historical 926 #4,149
1891 historical 940 #4,404
1901 historical 1,104 #4,373
1911 historical 140 #18,657
1997 modern 1,006 #5,474
1998 modern 1,042 #5,478
1999 modern 1,028 #5,590
2000 modern 1,044 #5,495
2001 modern 1,015 #5,515
2002 modern 1,044 #5,489
2003 modern 1,043 #5,409
2004 modern 1,035 #5,456
2005 modern 1,027 #5,431
2006 modern 1,002 #5,559
2007 modern 1,011 #5,554
2008 modern 1,004 #5,635
2009 modern 1,034 #5,621
2010 modern 1,031 #5,731
2011 modern 1,017 #5,741
2012 modern 987 #5,806
2013 modern 1,005 #5,797
2014 modern 1,020 #5,767
2015 modern 1,017 #5,730
2016 modern 1,030 #5,671

Geography

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Where Keddies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melrose, Markinch, Edinburgh, Scoonie and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tweeddale East Area, Kirkcaldy Gallatown and Sinclairtown, Galashiels North, Dalgety Bay Central and Kirkcaldy Dunnikier. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Melrose Roxburgh
2 Markinch Fife
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Scoonie Fife
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tweeddale East Area Scottish Borders
2 Kirkcaldy Gallatown and Sinclairtown Fife
3 Galashiels North Scottish Borders
4 Dalgety Bay Central Fife
5 Kirkcaldy Dunnikier Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keddie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keddie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Keddie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Keddie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Keddie 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

Keddie 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

Keddie falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Keddie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Keddie

The surname Keddie has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "cedadh," which means "mossy place" or "moss-covered ground." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals or families who resided in areas characterized by mossy or marshy terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Keddie surname appears in the Scottish parish records of Stirlingshire in the late 16th century. These records mention individuals with variations of the spelling, such as Kedie and Keddye. It is likely that the name originated in this region before spreading to other parts of Scotland.

In the 17th century, the Keddie surname can be found in various historical documents, including land records and court proceedings. A notable mention is in the "Register of the Privy Council of Scotland" from 1635, which refers to a John Keddie involved in a legal dispute over property rights.

The name Keddie has been linked to several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest documented was Sir John Keddie (1580-1645), a Scottish landowner and member of the Parliament of Scotland during the reign of King Charles I.

Another significant figure was Reverend William Keddie (1726-1799), a Presbyterian minister who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1789. He was known for his influential sermons and publications on theological matters.

In the 19th century, James Keddie (1823-1891) was a prominent Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Glasgow, including the St. Andrew's Halls and the Western Baths.

The Keddie surname also found its way to North America, with individuals bearing the name appearing in early colonial records. One notable example is John Keddie (1720-1784), a Scottish-born merchant who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and played a role in the American Revolutionary War.

In more recent times, Jean Keddie (1921-2015) was an acclaimed American historian and academic, renowned for her extensive research and publications on the Middle East and Iranian history.

The variations in the spelling of the Keddie surname over time suggest its evolution from the original Gaelic word. Some alternative spellings include Kedie, Keddy, and Kiddie, although the modern standardized form is predominantly Keddie.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keddie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keddie 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. Fife leads with 352 Keddies recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.03x.

County Total Index
Fife 352 68.03x
Midlothian 146 12.47x
Selkirkshire 70 88.53x
Lanarkshire 48 1.70x
Roxburghshire 46 29.06x
Angus 43 5.31x
Peeblesshire 28 68.11x
Berwickshire 19 17.95x
Lancashire 15 0.14x
Perthshire 15 3.82x
Dunbartonshire 14 5.96x
Stirlingshire 12 3.72x
Kinross-shire 8 36.22x
Surrey 8 0.19x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.86x
Dumfriesshire 7 3.63x
Renfrewshire 7 1.03x
West Lothian 7 5.32x
Clackmannanshire 6 8.31x
Essex 6 0.35x
Shropshire 6 0.79x
Middlesex 5 0.06x
Argyllshire 3 1.23x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.81x
Durham 3 0.12x
Ayrshire 2 0.31x
Kent 2 0.07x
Yorkshire 2 0.02x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Glamorgan 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.19x
Sussex 1 0.07x
Sutherland 1 1.49x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dysart in Fife leads with 94 Keddies recorded in 1881 and an index of 269.80x.

Place Total Index
Dysart 94 269.80x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 85 18.04x
Melrose 32 160.80x
Galashiels 23 78.69x
Govan 22 3.15x
Markinch 22 125.28x
Auchterderran 21 161.41x
Dundee 21 6.95x
Wemyss 21 95.93x
Ferry Port On Craig 20 235.02x
Innerleithen 20 183.32x
Scoonie 19 169.64x
South Leith 16 12.14x
Leuchars 15 229.36x
Selkirk 15 67.33x
Melrose 14 102.26x
St Andrews 14 59.47x
Glasgow 12 2.39x
Kinghorn 12 109.29x
Mertoun 12 585.37x
Beath 11 67.28x
Kilconquhar 11 178.57x
Dalkeith 10 43.29x
Liff Benvie 10 8.14x
Cupar 9 40.00x
Dunfermline 9 11.31x
Edinburgh St Stephens 9 39.05x
Falkirk 9 11.93x
Walton On Hill 9 16.02x
Burntisland 8 55.29x
Dron 8 792.08x
Inverkeithing 8 102.56x
Kinglassie 8 203.05x
Makerston 8 701.75x
Peebles 8 65.84x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 7 4.62x
Bonhill 7 18.57x
Brechin 7 22.00x
Kemback 7 273.44x
Moonzie 7 1590.91x
New Monkland 7 8.38x
Whitburn 7 36.80x
Alloa 6 17.14x
Bromfield 6 355.03x
Cardross 6 21.28x
Langholm 6 43.23x
Newburgh 6 91.32x
Eckford 5 182.48x
Leslie 5 38.17x
Minto 5 384.62x
Portmoak 5 159.24x
St Leonards 5 215.52x
Ancrum 4 97.56x
Ayton 4 65.15x
Barony 4 0.56x
Cathcart 4 10.91x
Corstorphine 4 61.92x
Crichton 4 122.70x
Kelso 4 25.35x
Kilmany 4 210.53x
Kirkcaldy 4 15.59x
Lambeth 4 0.52x
Oxnam 4 196.08x
Alfold 3 185.19x
Auchterhouse 3 150.75x
Barrow In Furness 3 2.13x
Bishopwearmouth 3 1.34x
Braintree 3 19.37x
Cameron 3 100.00x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 10.07x
Edinburgh St Georges 3 12.35x
Edinburgh St Marys 3 13.18x
Greenlaw 3 80.00x
Kirknewton East 3 61.35x
Larbert 3 15.57x
Llanelly 3 3.62x
Logie 3 21.32x
Orwell 3 49.26x
Withington 3 8.98x
Stitchel 2 194.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Annie 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Angela 1
Anita 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Marg. 1
Matilda 1
Mildred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
James 4
Thomas 4
Frederick 2
Robert 2
William 2
Alexr.H. 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Clarence 1
Clement 1
David 1
Douglas 1
George 1
Peter 1

FAQ

Keddie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keddie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 926 people were recorded with the Keddie surname. That placed it at #4,149 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keddie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,030 in 2016. That gives Keddie a modern rank of #5,671.

What does the Keddie surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name in Banffshire, Scotland.

What does the Keddie map show?

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