NameCensus.

UK surname

Keech

An English occupational surname for a person who made barrels or tubs, derived from Middle English "kechel" meaning "barrel."

In the 1881 census there were 629 people recorded with the Keech surname, ranking it #5,635 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,033, ranked #5,649, down from #5,635 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bedford St Paul, London parishes and Maulden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Northamptonshire, Northumberland and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keech is 1,087 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.2%.

1881 census count

629

Ranked #5,635

Modern count

1,033

2016, ranked #5,649

Peak year

1999

1,087 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keech had 629 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,635 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,033 in 2016, ranked #5,649.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,041 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Keech surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keech surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keech 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 323 #7,198
1861 historical 193 #12,371
1881 historical 629 #5,635
1891 historical 658 #5,904
1901 historical 926 #5,033
1911 historical 1,041 #4,409
1997 modern 1,058 #5,244
1998 modern 1,076 #5,353
1999 modern 1,087 #5,338
2000 modern 1,077 #5,351
2001 modern 1,049 #5,371
2002 modern 1,063 #5,420
2003 modern 1,060 #5,339
2004 modern 1,064 #5,331
2005 modern 1,040 #5,375
2006 modern 1,046 #5,367
2007 modern 1,054 #5,369
2008 modern 1,065 #5,353
2009 modern 1,077 #5,417
2010 modern 1,085 #5,502
2011 modern 1,049 #5,592
2012 modern 1,012 #5,688
2013 modern 1,048 #5,613
2014 modern 1,043 #5,664
2015 modern 1,047 #5,589
2016 modern 1,033 #5,649

Geography

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Where Keechs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bedford St Paul, London parishes, Maulden, Portsmouth, Portsea and Kettering. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Northamptonshire, Northumberland and Blaenau Gwent. 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 Bedford St Paul Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Maulden Bedfordshire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Kettering Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Northamptonshire 006 East Northamptonshire
2 Northumberland 013 Northumberland
3 Blaenau Gwent 009 Blaenau Gwent
4 Blaenau Gwent 008 Blaenau Gwent
5 Northumberland 010 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keech

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keech

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

Keech is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Keech 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 Keech is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Keech

The surname Keech is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cece," which means a small stream or brook. It is believed to have originated in the county of Hertfordshire, England, during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keech can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Kece" or "Keche." This suggests that the name was already present in various parts of England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname Keech was often associated with people living near small streams or brooks, particularly in the counties of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Bedfordshire. Some early variations of the spelling include Keche, Keeche, and Keache.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Keech was John Keech (1608-1658), an English Particular Baptist minister and author from Hertfordshire. He played a significant role in the development of the Baptist movement in England during the 17th century.

Another prominent individual with this surname was George Keech (1728-1807), a British politician and member of parliament for Hindon, Wiltshire, from 1768 to 1796. He was known for his support of the Whig party and his advocacy for parliamentary reform.

In the 19th century, William Keech (1818-1895) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Holborn and the former London Orphan Asylum in Clapton.

The surname Keech was also found in various parts of the United States, particularly in the New England region, where it was likely brought by early English settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries. One notable American with this surname was Frank B. Keech (1856-1939), a successful businessman and politician from Ohio who served as the Secretary of State of Ohio from 1909 to 1913.

Another significant figure was Samuel Keech (1668-1719), an English Quaker minister and writer who travelled extensively and authored several religious works. He was known for his efforts to promote Quaker beliefs and practices in various parts of England and the American colonies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keech families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keech 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. Bedfordshire leads with 166 Keechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.00x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 166 52.00x
Dorset 117 28.92x
Northamptonshire 86 14.83x
Yorkshire 49 0.80x
Surrey 38 1.27x
Middlesex 32 0.52x
Buckinghamshire 25 6.71x
Hampshire 19 1.50x
Kent 18 0.86x
Somerset 16 1.61x
Huntingdonshire 11 8.99x
Leicestershire 10 1.46x
Sussex 9 0.87x
Lancashire 7 0.10x
Norfolk 7 0.74x
Hertfordshire 6 1.41x
Wiltshire 4 0.73x
Channel Islands 3 1.64x
Devon 3 0.23x
Berkshire 1 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.26x
Essex 1 0.08x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Monmouthshire 1 0.22x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Irthlingborough in Northamptonshire leads with 36 Keechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 632.69x.

Place Total Index
Irthlingborough 36 632.69x
Marston Moretaine 21 843.37x
Abbotsbury 20 966.18x
Bridport 19 228.09x
Maulden 19 685.92x
Beaminster 13 288.89x
Cardington 13 500.00x
Turvey 13 643.56x
Bedford St Paul 12 54.82x
Allington 11 304.71x
Goldington 11 901.64x
Kempston 11 151.72x
Lee 11 36.02x
Kettering 10 42.64x
Bedford St Mary 9 109.49x
Bermondsey 9 4.90x
Newport Pagnell 9 115.53x
Oakley 9 1451.61x
Peterborough 9 21.44x
St Pancras London 9 1.81x
Toller Porcorum 9 957.45x
Halstock 8 851.06x
Houghton Conquest 8 610.69x
Leeds 8 2.32x
Ridgmont 8 509.55x
Egham 7 37.96x
Hailsham 7 111.29x
Leicester St Margaret 7 4.20x
Newington 7 3.07x
Portsea 7 2.83x
Sculcoates 7 7.23x
Sherborne 7 58.72x
Sherington 7 551.18x
Wellingborough 7 24.01x
Alverstoke 6 13.12x
Burton Latimer 6 171.43x
Coltishall 6 298.51x
Hatfield 6 69.69x
Husborne Crawley 6 594.06x
Lambeth 6 1.12x
Pytchley 6 504.20x
St George Hanover Square 6 5.52x
York St Lawrence 6 94.19x
Astwood 5 1063.83x
Bedford St Peter 5 60.31x
Crewkerne 5 47.44x
Croydon 5 3.00x
Knotting 5 1282.05x
Prestwich 5 27.40x
Queen Camel 5 431.03x
Stevington 5 378.79x
York St Giles In 5 86.81x
Brampton 4 156.86x
Brigstock 4 181.82x
Castleford 4 17.98x
Dorchester St Peter 4 136.52x
Fordington 4 45.87x
Great Gidding 4 392.16x
Hardmead 4 2105.26x
Milborne St Andrew 4 333.33x
Skircoat 4 16.60x
Warminster 4 33.47x
York St Crux 4 231.21x
Askerswell 3 681.82x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 3 41.15x
Blandford Forum 3 37.59x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.85x
Fen Stanton 3 133.33x
Hackney London 3 0.87x
Irchester 3 83.33x
Shepton Beauchamp 3 222.22x
St Helier 3 5.04x
Swyre 3 666.67x
Westminster St John 3 4.00x
Wootton 3 108.70x
York St Mary 3 11.86x
Battersea 2 0.88x
Bradpole 2 60.24x
Cranfield 2 65.15x
Maiden Newton 2 118.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 41
George 34
John 33
Thomas 21
Joseph 15
Charles 12
Arthur 11
Frederick 11
James 11
Samuel 8
Henry 7
Alfred 6
Edward 6
Albert 5
Benjamin 5
Walter 5
Isaac 4
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Robert 3
Thos. 3
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Jesse 2
Reuben 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Amos 1
Archibald 1
Charley 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Ezra 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.J. 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Jonah 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Octavius 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Quintus 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Keech surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keech surname in 1881?

In 1881, 629 people were recorded with the Keech surname. That placed it at #5,635 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keech surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,033 in 2016. That gives Keech a modern rank of #5,649.

What does the Keech surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a person who made barrels or tubs, derived from Middle English "kechel" meaning "barrel."

What does the Keech map show?

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