NameCensus.

UK surname

Keel

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a narrow valley, ravine, or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 595 people recorded with the Keel surname, ranking it #5,878 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 638, ranked #8,294, down from #5,878 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, Endford, Netheravon and Swindon, Lyddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Somerset, Wychavon and Basingstoke and Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keel is 717 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.2%.

1881 census count

595

Ranked #5,878

Modern count

638

2016, ranked #8,294

Peak year

1911

717 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keel had 595 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,878 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 638 in 2016, ranked #8,294.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 717 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Keel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keel surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Keel 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 376 #6,343
1861 historical 380 #6,726
1881 historical 595 #5,878
1891 historical 629 #6,149
1901 historical 710 #6,211
1911 historical 717 #5,963
1997 modern 674 #7,459
1998 modern 688 #7,582
1999 modern 678 #7,703
2000 modern 679 #7,671
2001 modern 667 #7,644
2002 modern 675 #7,730
2003 modern 637 #7,940
2004 modern 662 #7,731
2005 modern 656 #7,716
2006 modern 631 #7,983
2007 modern 633 #8,038
2008 modern 651 #7,908
2009 modern 654 #8,030
2010 modern 658 #8,165
2011 modern 649 #8,164
2012 modern 632 #8,256
2013 modern 644 #8,275
2014 modern 647 #8,289
2015 modern 639 #8,304
2016 modern 638 #8,294

Geography

Back to top

Where Keels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, Endford, Netheravon, Swindon, Lyddington, Bulford and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Somerset, Wychavon, Basingstoke and Deane, Wealden and Bassetlaw. 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 Romsey Extra, Michelmersh Hampshire
2 Endford, Netheravon Wiltshire
3 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
4 Bulford Wiltshire
5 London parishes London 1

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Somerset 024 North Somerset
2 Wychavon 007 Wychavon
3 Basingstoke and Deane 020 Basingstoke and Deane
4 Wealden 001 Wealden
5 Bassetlaw 008 Bassetlaw

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Keel

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Keel

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

Keel is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Keel falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Keel

The surname Keel is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "ciele," which means "keel" or "ship's keel." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who worked as shipbuilders or sailors.

The earliest known record of the surname Keel dates back to the 13th century, where it appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. This historic document recorded the name as "Kele." Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, "Keel."

In the 14th century, the Keel surname appeared in various historical records, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where it was recorded as "Kelle." This version of the spelling could also be linked to the Old English word "celle," meaning "spring" or "stream," indicating that the name may have been associated with individuals living near a watercourse.

One notable individual with the surname Keel was Sir John Keel, a prominent English merchant and politician who lived in the 16th century. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1548 and was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers.

Another historical figure with the Keel surname was Richard Keel, an English clergyman who lived in the 17th century. He was the rector of the parish church in Oxfordshire and is mentioned in several church records from that time period.

In the 18th century, the Keel surname was associated with several notable individuals, including Thomas Keel, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He participated in several significant naval battles and is mentioned in various naval records from that era.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the Keel surname was James Keel, a British author and journalist. He was born in 1827 and is best known for his travel writings and accounts of his adventures in various parts of the world.

Finally, in the early 20th century, Alfred Keel was a notable English artist and sculptor. He was born in 1892 and is known for his works depicting scenes from rural life and landscapes. His sculptures and paintings can be found in several art galleries and museums across the United Kingdom.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Keel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keel 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. Wiltshire leads with 99 Keels recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.39x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 99 19.39x
Somerset 85 9.14x
Hampshire 67 5.66x
Kent 49 2.49x
Middlesex 48 0.83x
Surrey 45 1.60x
Yorkshire 40 0.70x
Berkshire 18 4.15x
Dorset 18 4.75x
Gloucestershire 14 1.24x
Midlothian 13 1.68x
Warwickshire 12 0.82x
Glamorgan 11 1.09x
Lancashire 11 0.16x
Northamptonshire 11 2.03x
Staffordshire 11 0.56x
Oxfordshire 7 1.96x
Lincolnshire 5 0.54x
Northumberland 5 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.64x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.86x
Worcestershire 3 0.40x
Cheshire 2 0.16x
Royal Navy 2 2.91x
Sussex 2 0.21x
Channel Islands 1 0.58x
Cornwall 1 0.15x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Essex 1 0.09x
Herefordshire 1 0.42x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Netheravon in Wiltshire leads with 27 Keels recorded in 1881 and an index of 2347.83x.

Place Total Index
Netheravon 27 2347.83x
Bulford 26 3823.53x
Kinson 18 242.92x
Nempnett Thrubwell 14 3255.81x
Sittingbourne 13 83.55x
Swindon 13 32.82x
Michelmersh 11 480.35x
Chew Stoke 10 724.64x
Berwick St James 9 2432.43x
Islington London 9 1.61x
Lasswade 9 50.88x
Lyncombe Widcombe 9 36.98x
Newington 9 4.22x
Thirlby 9 4090.91x
Basingstoke 8 58.78x
Elmsted 8 930.23x
Llanwonno 8 22.14x
Middlesbrough 8 10.74x
Milton In Milton 8 95.47x
Thames Ditton 8 136.75x
Aston 7 1.75x
Bishops Waltham 7 141.99x
Churchill 7 472.97x
Northampton St Giles 7 33.83x
Ogbourne St George 7 729.17x
Romsey Extra 7 99.43x
Bathwick 6 58.31x
Bedminster 6 6.87x
Hammersmith London 6 4.22x
Hursley 6 218.18x
Kensington London 6 1.87x
Stanton Drew 6 659.34x
Walsall Foreign 6 5.96x
Ash Normandy 5 130.89x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 9.38x
Bedlington 5 17.43x
Camberwell 5 1.36x
Caversham 5 70.13x
Lambeth 5 0.99x
Millbrook 5 16.77x
Nottingham St Mary 5 2.48x
Ramsbury 5 107.99x
Reading St Mary 5 14.40x
Sheffield 5 2.74x
South Stoneham 5 19.47x
St Pancras London 5 1.08x
Timsbury 5 177.31x
Westminster St Margaret 5 17.95x
Woodford 5 574.71x
Bentley 4 287.77x
Burrington 4 444.44x
Canterbury St Gregory 4 153.85x
Enford 4 231.21x
Everton 4 1.83x
Hardingstone 4 77.22x
Knowle 4 133.78x
Manchester 4 1.30x
Reading St Giles 4 9.41x
Ryde 4 15.73x
South Leith 4 4.60x
Winkfield 4 55.63x
Abinger 3 128.21x
Andover 3 26.83x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 3 15.33x
Brightside Bierlow 3 2.67x
Cheddar 3 64.10x
Datchet 3 125.52x
Earley 3 41.55x
Eythorne 3 322.58x
Farringdon 3 258.62x
Gate Fulford 3 22.46x
Herne 3 34.40x
Hornsey 3 4.11x
Kingswood 3 163.04x
Marshfield 3 99.01x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.95x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.45x
Westbury On Severn East 3 11.72x
Merrow 2 169.49x
Yatton 2 55.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 34
Charles 26
John 26
James 24
George 22
Thomas 15
Henry 12
Walter 10
Francis 6
Robert 6
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Edwin 5
Ernest 5
Joseph 5
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Albert 3
David 3
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Freeman 3
Jesse 3
Jonathan 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Fred 2
Hubert 2
Rowland 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Allen 1
Charle 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Edwd.C. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Jabez 1
Joel 1
Lawrence 1
Mathew 1
Maurice 1
Percival 1
Randolph 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Keel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 595 people were recorded with the Keel surname. That placed it at #5,878 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 638 in 2016. That gives Keel a modern rank of #8,294.

What does the Keel surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a narrow valley, ravine, or stream.

What does the Keel map show?

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