NameCensus.

UK surname

Keeffe

An Irish surname stemming from the Gaelic words "ó coímhe" meaning descendent of the helper or servant.

In the 1881 census there were 249 people recorded with the Keeffe surname, ranking it #11,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 109, ranked #29,402, down from #11,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St George in the East and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, South Kesteven and Spelthorne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keeffe is 320 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 56.2%.

1881 census count

249

Ranked #11,103

Modern count

109

2016, ranked #29,402

Peak year

1911

320 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keeffe had 249 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016, ranked #29,402.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 320 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Keeffe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keeffe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keeffe 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 171 #11,730
1861 historical 185 #12,799
1881 historical 249 #11,103
1891 historical 256 #12,522
1901 historical 230 #13,851
1911 historical 320 #10,932
1997 modern 119 #24,302
1998 modern 127 #23,940
1999 modern 127 #24,125
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 107 #26,328
2002 modern 115 #25,749
2003 modern 122 #24,628
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 114 #25,837
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 115 #26,348
2008 modern 115 #26,635
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 122 #26,876
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 110 #29,028
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 110 #29,157
2016 modern 109 #29,402

Geography

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Where Keeffes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, South Kesteven, Spelthorne, Bromley and Greenwich. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 002 Cheshire West and Chester
2 South Kesteven 008 South Kesteven
3 Spelthorne 003 Spelthorne
4 Bromley 028 Bromley
5 Greenwich 006 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keeffe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keeffe

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Keeffe is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Keeffe 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

Keeffe 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 Keeffe 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Keeffe

The surname KEEFFE has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic surname "Ó Caoimh," which means "descendant of Caoimh." Caoimh was a personal name derived from the Old Irish word "caomh," meaning gentle or kind.

The KEEFFE surname is predominantly found in the counties of Cork and Kerry in the southwestern part of Ireland. It is believed that the name originated in this region and later spread to other parts of the country. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in various Irish annals and records.

One of the earliest known references to the KEEFFE surname can be found in the "Annals of Inisfallen," a chronicle of Irish history written by the monks of Inisfallen Abbey in County Kerry. The annals mention a notable figure named Dermot O'Keeffe, who was the lord of the territory of Duhallow in County Cork in the late 13th century.

Another notable KEEFFE from history is John O'Keeffe, a playwright and actor who lived from 1747 to 1833. He was born in Dublin and is best known for his comedies, such as "The Agreeable Surprise" and "The Pretender." O'Keeffe's works were popular in both Ireland and England during his lifetime.

In the 16th century, a branch of the KEEFFE family settled in County Limerick, where they became known as the O'Keeffes of Dromkeen. One notable member of this branch was Nicholas O'Keeffe, who was a prominent Catholic landowner and supporter of the Jacobite cause during the Williamite War in Ireland in the late 17th century.

Another noteworthy figure with the KEEFFE surname was John Keeffe, an Irish-American journalist and author who lived from 1865 to 1940. He was born in County Cork and later emigrated to the United States, where he worked as a journalist for various newspapers, including the New York Herald and the New York Tribune.

In the realm of sports, one notable KEEFFE was Michael Keeffe, an Irish hurler who played for the Cork senior hurling team in the early 20th century. He was a member of the team that won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1919 and 1920.

While the KEEFFE surname has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to emigration. Today, the name can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keeffe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keeffe 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. Lancashire leads with 79 Keeffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.69x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 79 2.69x
Middlesex 47 1.90x
Glamorgan 26 6.03x
Kent 19 2.25x
Surrey 15 1.24x
Cheshire 14 2.56x
Yorkshire 14 0.57x
Gloucestershire 12 2.47x
Durham 9 1.22x
Lanarkshire 9 1.12x
Channel Islands 3 4.09x
Devon 2 0.39x
Royal Navy 2 6.78x
Flintshire 1 1.50x
Hampshire 1 0.20x
Staffordshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 16 Keeffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.96x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 16 8.96x
Manchester 15 11.35x
Camberwell 13 8.21x
Everton 12 12.81x
Roath 11 56.15x
Glaisdale 9 957.45x
Glasgow 9 6.33x
Plumstead 9 31.94x
Gelligaer 8 81.22x
Isleworth 8 72.60x
Bristol Christchurch 7 985.92x
Cardiff St Mary 7 29.46x
Pendleton In Salford 7 19.98x
Poplar London 7 14.97x
Droylsden 6 62.57x
St Pancras London 6 3.01x
Whitefriars Precinct 6 1500.00x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 7.78x
Bollin Fee 5 205.76x
Chester St John Baptist 5 50.86x
Eston 5 93.46x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 5 56.24x
Heston 5 60.75x
Stockton On Tees 5 14.07x
Collierley 4 121.95x
Deptford St Paul 4 6.14x
Dukinfield 4 15.83x
Gorton 4 14.47x
Over Darwen 4 17.04x
Preston 4 5.09x
St Marylebone London 4 3.02x
Whitechapel London 4 16.38x
St Helier 3 12.55x
Windle 3 18.14x
Broughton In Salford 2 7.44x
Deptford St Nicholas 2 29.81x
Royal Navy 2 7.92x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 18.64x
Swanscombe 2 52.63x
Tormoham 2 9.17x
Aldershot 1 5.88x
Chiswick 1 7.39x
Finchley 1 10.53x
Greenwich 1 2.54x
Kensington London 1 0.73x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.90x
Rhuddlan 1 17.06x
St Giles In Fields London 1 8.23x
Streatham 1 5.44x
Toxteth Park 1 1.00x
Wandsworth 1 4.19x
Wednesbury 1 4.78x
Woolwich 1 3.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 16
Ellen 13
Bridget 6
Eliza 6
Margaret 4
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Johanna 3
Kate 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Florinda 2
Hannah 2
Honora 2
Jane 2
Julia 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Arabella 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz.O. 1
Frances 1
Hannorah 1
Helen 1
Louisa 1
Margarete 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Nora 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
Thomas 12
James 11
William 11
Daniel 7
Patrick 5
Peter 5
Edward 4
Michael 4
Richard 4
Jeremiah 3
Joseph 3
Timothy 3
Andrew 2
David 2
George 2
Henry 2
Thos. 2
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Cornelius 1
Cotter 1
Denis 1
Dennis 1
Edmund 1
Frederick 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jeremeiah 1
Jno. 1
Joel 1
Stephen 1
Thos.Wal. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Keeffe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keeffe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 249 people were recorded with the Keeffe surname. That placed it at #11,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keeffe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016. That gives Keeffe a modern rank of #29,402.

What does the Keeffe surname mean?

An Irish surname stemming from the Gaelic words "ó coímhe" meaning descendent of the helper or servant.

What does the Keeffe map show?

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