NameCensus.

UK surname

Keegan

Derived from the Irish surname "Mac Aodhagáin," meaning "descendant of Aodhagán," a personal name meaning "little fire."

In the 1881 census there were 990 people recorded with the Keegan surname, ranking it #3,941 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,803, ranked #1,776, up from #3,941 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Liverpool and Drumry East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keegan is 3,955 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 284.1%.

1881 census count

990

Ranked #3,941

Modern count

3,803

2016, ranked #1,776

Peak year

2010

3,955 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keegan had 990 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,941 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,803 in 2016, ranked #1,776.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,375 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Keegan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keegan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keegan 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 271 #8,257
1861 historical 278 #8,998
1881 historical 990 #3,941
1891 historical 927 #4,458
1901 historical 1,375 #3,659
1911 historical 1,222 #3,869
1997 modern 3,593 #1,801
1998 modern 3,692 #1,823
1999 modern 3,746 #1,811
2000 modern 3,750 #1,795
2001 modern 3,646 #1,807
2002 modern 3,745 #1,810
2003 modern 3,635 #1,823
2004 modern 3,612 #1,830
2005 modern 3,634 #1,798
2006 modern 3,645 #1,792
2007 modern 3,710 #1,778
2008 modern 3,740 #1,775
2009 modern 3,838 #1,768
2010 modern 3,955 #1,758
2011 modern 3,851 #1,781
2012 modern 3,729 #1,801
2013 modern 3,829 #1,788
2014 modern 3,878 #1,773
2015 modern 3,827 #1,776
2016 modern 3,803 #1,776

Geography

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Where Keegans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Liverpool, Drumry East, Trafford and Shropshire. 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 Gateshead Durham
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 030 Wigan
2 Liverpool 040 Liverpool
3 Drumry East Glasgow City
4 Trafford 019 Trafford
5 Shropshire 005 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keegan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keegan

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Keegan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Keegan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Keegan 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

Keegan 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

Keegan falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Keegan 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 Keegan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Keegan

The surname Keegan originated in Ireland and is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Ciadhain. It is derived from the old Irish word "ciadh," meaning "celebrated" or "famous."

The name can be traced back to the 10th century, with early written records showing variations such as O'Keegan, O'Keaghan, and O'Keigan. It was particularly prominent in County Tipperary, where the Ó Ciadhain clan held territory and influence.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Muircheartach Ó Ciadhain, a 12th-century Irish poet and historian. His writings are considered valuable sources of information about Irish history and culture during that period.

In the 16th century, the Keegan name appeared in the Fiants of the Tudor Conquest, which were records of land grants and pardons issued by the English Crown in Ireland. This suggests that some members of the Ó Ciadhain clan had their lands confiscated and were later pardoned or granted new lands.

Notable figures with the surname Keegan include John Keegan (1934-2012), a renowned British military historian and author of seminal works such as "The Face of Battle" and "A History of Warfare." Another is Seán Keegan (1923-2007), an Irish actor who appeared in many films and television shows, including "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" and "Brideshead Revisited."

In the realm of sports, Phil Keegan (1886-1926) was an Australian cricketer who played for the Australian national team in the early 20th century. Joseph Keegan (1899-1954) was an American professional baseball player who pitched for several Major League Baseball teams, including the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants.

Another notable bearer of the name was Thomas Keegan (1917-1984), an American Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Bishop of Arlington, Virginia, from 1974 to 1983.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keegan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keegan 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 386 Keegans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.35x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 386 3.35x
Yorkshire 106 1.10x
Lanarkshire 61 1.94x
Middlesex 49 0.50x
Midlothian 48 3.69x
Durham 40 1.39x
Cheshire 32 1.49x
Warwickshire 32 1.31x
East Lothian 23 17.89x
Kent 21 0.63x
Staffordshire 20 0.61x
Hampshire 19 0.96x
Gloucestershire 15 0.79x
Surrey 15 0.32x
Northumberland 14 0.97x
Essex 13 0.68x
Ayrshire 11 1.51x
Angus 9 1.00x
Devon 9 0.45x
Anglesey 8 4.65x
Perthshire 8 1.84x
Cumberland 6 0.72x
Glamorgan 6 0.36x
West Lothian 6 4.10x
Norfolk 4 0.27x
Renfrewshire 4 0.53x
Shropshire 4 0.48x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.33x
Berkshire 3 0.41x
Monmouthshire 3 0.43x
Royal Navy 3 2.59x
Derbyshire 2 0.13x
Dorset 2 0.31x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.15x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.65x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.25x
Channel Islands 1 0.35x
Cornwall 1 0.09x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.47x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x
Sussex 1 0.06x

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 106 Keegans recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.15x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 106 15.15x
Manchester 51 9.85x
Middlesbrough 24 19.16x
West Derby 23 6.83x
Widnes 20 24.08x
South Leith 19 12.99x
Birmingham 18 2.21x
Hulme 18 7.49x
Kirkdale 16 8.26x
Castleton 15 13.04x
Everton 15 4.09x
Aston 14 2.08x
Barony 14 1.76x
Toxteth Park 13 3.33x
Gateshead 11 5.09x
Newchurch 11 11.67x
Ormiston 11 322.58x
St Giles In Fields London 11 23.10x
West Ham 11 2.60x
Aberlady 10 299.40x
Birkenhead 10 5.86x
Bristol St George 10 11.36x
Old Monkland 10 8.03x
Wakefield 10 13.54x
Aldershot 9 13.51x
Bowling 9 9.45x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 4.92x
Dalserf 9 28.74x
Huddersfield 9 6.42x
Newton 9 10.14x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 5.78x
St Marylebone London 9 1.74x
Wolstanton 9 9.04x
Woolwich 9 7.36x
Chorley 8 12.38x
Dewsbury 8 8.11x
Halifax 8 5.67x
Holyhead 8 24.95x
Ryhope 8 39.90x
St Pancras London 8 1.02x
Tranmere 8 10.16x
Chatham 7 7.68x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 1.34x
Govan 7 0.90x
Kirkleatham 7 53.89x
Lambeth 7 0.83x
Ormesby 7 27.08x
Penicuik 7 39.62x
Stockport 7 6.35x
Wallsend 7 15.28x
Ballantrae 6 125.00x
Bilston 6 9.45x
Boness 6 29.78x
Bradford 6 2.58x
Dalziel 6 17.77x
Dundee 6 1.79x
Lasswade 6 20.18x
Pendleton In Salford 6 4.37x
Portsea 6 1.54x
St Cuthbert W O 6 14.73x
Stockton On Tees 6 4.31x
Westgate 6 6.71x
Blackburn 5 1.63x
Bothwell 5 5.87x
Edinburgh St Marys 5 19.78x
Garston 5 14.71x
Lancaster 5 7.30x
Perth East Church 5 12.17x
Radcliffe 5 9.01x
Stranton 5 5.14x
Sutton 5 12.94x
Atherton 4 9.54x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 4.37x
Cardiff St John 4 7.25x
Chiswick 4 7.54x
Maryhill 4 6.51x
Maybole 4 18.08x
Parr 4 9.71x
Southowram 4 13.62x
Southwark Christchurch 4 8.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 97
Elizabeth 33
Margaret 29
Catherine 23
Ann 20
Bridget 20
Ellen 17
Jane 13
Sarah 13
Annie 10
Eliza 8
Alice 7
Harriet 6
Kate 6
Maria 6
Anne 5
Emma 5
Frances 5
Rose 5
Hannah 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Clara 3
Julia 3
Margt. 3
Winifred 3
Agnes 2
Cathrine 2
Charlotte 2
Dorah 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Maggie 2
Margret 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Teresa 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Cath. 1
Eland 1
Julis 1
Katey 1
Katherine 1
Winniford 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 76
James 48
Thomas 33
Patrick 29
William 28
Michael 24
Edward 17
Joseph 17
Francis 11
Henry 10
Thos. 9
Peter 7
Charles 6
Andrew 5
Bernard 5
Richard 5
Frank 4
Daniel 3
George 3
Harry 3
Jno. 3
Lawrence 3
Martin 3
Owen 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Christopher 2
Dennis 2
Frederick 2
Mark 2
Phillip 2
Samuel 2
Timothy 2
Augustus 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Jso. 1
Laughlan 1
Laurence 1
M. 1
Michl. 1
Nicholas 1
Paterick 1
Philip 1
Riune 1
Stephen 1
T. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Keegan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keegan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 990 people were recorded with the Keegan surname. That placed it at #3,941 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keegan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,803 in 2016. That gives Keegan a modern rank of #1,776.

What does the Keegan surname mean?

Derived from the Irish surname "Mac Aodhagáin," meaning "descendant of Aodhagán," a personal name meaning "little fire."

What does the Keegan map show?

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