UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic word meaning "handsome" or "beautiful".
In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Keef surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #16,515 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Godalming, St Anne Soho and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keef is 135 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 80.7%.
1881 census count
135
Ranked #16,515
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
135 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Keef surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Keef surname density by area, 1881 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 | 113 | #15,815 |
| 1861 | historical | 135 | #16,651 |
| 1881 | historical | 135 | #16,515 |
| 1891 | historical | 83 | #26,376 |
| 1901 | historical | 53 | #28,271 |
| 1911 | historical | 37 | #29,263 |
| 1997 | modern | 22 | #35,584 |
| 1998 | modern | 24 | #35,488 |
| 1999 | modern | 25 | #35,413 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 24 | #35,520 |
| 2003 | modern | 22 | #35,740 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 23 | #36,054 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 20 | #36,534 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Godalming, St Anne Soho, Toxteth Park, Manchester and St George the Martyr. 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 | Godalming | Surrey |
| 2 | St Anne Soho | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Keef 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 Keef, 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 Keef surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Keef 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, Keef 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 Keef is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Keef, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "KEEF" is of English origin, derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "cefe" or "caefe", which means "pale" or "white". This name likely originated as a nickname for someone with a fair complexion or light hair color. It is believed to have first emerged in the regions of Kent and Sussex in the south of England during the early Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cefe". This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Over time, the spelling evolved into various forms, including "Keefe", "Keef", and the modern "KEEF".
Historically, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Kent and Sussex, as well as in parts of Surrey and Hampshire. It is also closely associated with the town of Keevil in Wiltshire, which may have derived its name from an early bearer of the surname.
In the 13th century, a record mentions a Robert Keef from Kent, who was involved in a land dispute. Another notable early bearer of the name was John Keef, born around 1450 in Sussex, who was a prominent merchant and landowner in the region.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname gained more widespread recognition. Sir Robert Keef (1550-1622) was a prominent figure in the English court and served as a member of Parliament. Meanwhile, William Keef (1590-1660) was a renowned scholar and clergyman who authored several influential theological works.
In the 18th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Admiral Sir Edward Keef (1720-1790), a renowned naval officer who played a crucial role in several major battles during the American Revolutionary War.
Other notable individuals with the surname "KEEF" include the celebrated English writer and poet, Emily Keef (1818-1892), whose works explored themes of nature and spirituality, and the renowned 19th-century architect, Thomas Keef (1845-1912), who designed several iconic buildings in London and other parts of England.
While the surname "KEEF" has spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora, its roots can be traced back to the early medieval period in southern England, where it emerged as a nickname for individuals with fair complexions or light hair.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keef 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. Lancashire leads with 27 Keefs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.72x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 27 | 1.72x |
| Middlesex | 24 | 1.81x |
| Surrey | 21 | 3.25x |
| Lincolnshire | 12 | 5.66x |
| Monmouthshire | 10 | 10.43x |
| Durham | 9 | 2.28x |
| Berkshire | 5 | 5.02x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 2.53x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 1.37x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 1.73x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 2.48x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.77x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.74x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.13x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 2.54x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.22x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.45x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.30x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.08x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fulham London in Middlesex leads with 12 Keefs recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.37x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Fulham London | 12 | 62.37x |
| Salford | 10 | 21.60x |
| Bedwellty | 9 | 53.16x |
| Godalming | 9 | 221.13x |
| Wingate | 9 | 332.10x |
| Liverpool | 6 | 6.28x |
| Aldermaston | 5 | 2083.33x |
| Alford | 5 | 381.68x |
| Camberwell | 5 | 5.90x |
| Ealing | 5 | 42.16x |
| Longbenton | 5 | 59.81x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 5 | 18.73x |
| Kirkdale | 4 | 15.11x |
| Aldeburgh | 3 | 312.50x |
| Great Grimsby | 3 | 22.29x |
| Islington London | 3 | 2.33x |
| Sully | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Edinburgh Old | 2 | 185.19x |
| Hannah Cum Hagnaby | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 2.71x |
| Stretford | 2 | 23.09x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 3.75x |
| Tranmere | 2 | 18.59x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 10.98x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 10.16x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 0.90x |
| Brinnington | 1 | 36.50x |
| Bury | 1 | 5.56x |
| Cadoxton | 1 | 714.29x |
| Charlton | 1 | 33.22x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 2.50x |
| Clee With Weelsby | 1 | 21.55x |
| Holme On Spalding Moor | 1 | 116.28x |
| Horncastle | 1 | 45.66x |
| Ipswich St Clement | 1 | 24.33x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 0.86x |
| Lewes St John Southover | 1 | 66.67x |
| Macclesfield | 1 | 7.68x |
| Newington | 1 | 2.04x |
| Parr | 1 | 17.76x |
| St Helier | 1 | 7.81x |
| Stapleton | 1 | 20.24x |
| Trevethin | 1 | 11.04x |
| Warrington | 1 | 5.36x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 7.65x |
| Wotton St Mary | 1 | 74.07x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Keef 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 Keef 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 Keef households.
FAQ
In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Keef surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Keef a modern rank of #36,254.
A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic word meaning "handsome" or "beautiful".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Keef 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.