NameCensus.

UK surname

Keedy

An Anglicized form of the Scottish surname Kedie, itself an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Aidh meaning "son of fire" or "son of Hugh."

In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Keedy surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, down from #24,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Plumstead, Gateshead and Monkwearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Wakefield and Mole Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keedy is 152 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.1%.

1881 census count

66

Ranked #24,256

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

2004

152 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keedy had 66 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 134 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Keedy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keedy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keedy 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 39 #26,319
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 66 #24,256
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 134 #19,131
1997 modern 141 #21,941
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 144 #22,357
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 144 #22,501
2003 modern 151 #21,574
2004 modern 152 #21,628
2005 modern 145 #22,253
2006 modern 143 #22,619
2007 modern 146 #22,596
2008 modern 147 #22,720
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 148 #23,697
2011 modern 138 #24,615
2012 modern 142 #24,148
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 141 #24,723
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Keedys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Plumstead, Gateshead, Monkwearmouth, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Wakefield, Mole Valley and Doncaster. 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 Plumstead London (South Districts)
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Monkwearmouth Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 065 Leeds
2 Wakefield 009 Wakefield
3 Mole Valley 010 Mole Valley
4 Doncaster 007 Doncaster
5 Doncaster 010 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keedy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keedy

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Keedy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Keedy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Keedy is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Keedy is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Keedy 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 Keedy 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 Keedy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Keedy

The surname Keedy is believed to have originated in Ireland, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Gaelic words "caedh" or "caoide," which translates to "weeping" or "lamenting." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who was known for their mournful or sorrowful demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Keedy name can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Elizabeth I, a collection of official documents from the late 16th century. In these records, a man named Thomas Keedy is mentioned as receiving a land grant in County Wexford, Ireland, in the year 1592.

During the 17th century, the Keedy surname began to spread throughout various parts of Ireland, particularly in counties like Wexford, Kilkenny, and Tipperary. The name also appeared in various spellings, such as Kedie, Keedie, and Kedey, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

In the 18th century, the Keedy name gained further recognition with the birth of Robert Keedy (1718-1795), a prominent Irish politician and landowner from County Wexford. He served as a Member of Parliament for the Borough of Wexford and was known for his involvement in local affairs.

Another notable figure with the Keedy surname was William Keedy (1825-1902), an Irish-born author and journalist who emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century. He worked as a writer and editor for various publications, including the New York Herald and the Philadelphia Press.

In the late 19th century, the name Keedy also appeared in Scotland, with the birth of John Keedy (1878-1959), a Scottish rugby union player who represented Scotland in international matches between 1901 and 1905.

As the Keedy family spread across different regions, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged, such as Keaty, Keety, and Keaty. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in its Irish heritage, reflecting the rich cultural diversity and historical significance of surnames in Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keedy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keedy 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. Durham leads with 28 Keedys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.40x.

County Total Index
Durham 28 14.40x
Yorkshire 20 3.09x
Northumberland 8 8.23x
Kent 6 2.69x
Lancashire 2 0.26x
Shropshire 2 3.54x
Royal Navy 1 12.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hunslet in Yorkshire leads with 20 Keedys recorded in 1881 and an index of 198.02x.

Place Total Index
Hunslet 20 198.02x
Westoe 9 81.67x
South Shields 7 404.62x
Gateshead 6 41.21x
Plumstead 6 80.75x
Stranton 6 91.60x
Chirton 5 227.27x
Barrow In Furness 2 18.96x
Ludlow St Lawrence 2 178.57x
Morpeth 1 87.72x
North Shields 1 51.55x
Royal Navy 1 15.02x
Tynemouth 1 19.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Clara 2
Elizabeth 2
Jemima 2
A.E. 1
Ada 1
Christina 1
Dinah 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Lizzie 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 8
John 4
Joseph 4
William 3
Harry 2
Alexander 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
George 1
J.G. 1
Jno.H. 1
Lawrence 1
Lunsley 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Reuben 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Keedy households.

FAQ

Keedy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keedy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Keedy surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keedy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Keedy a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Keedy surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Scottish surname Kedie, itself an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Aidh meaning "son of fire" or "son of Hugh."

What does the Keedy map show?

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