NameCensus.

UK surname

Keeler

An occupational surname denoting a bargeman or boatman who steers a barge or boat.

In the 1881 census there were 883 people recorded with the Keeler surname, ranking it #4,300 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,492, ranked #4,145, up from #4,300 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Denton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, South Norfolk and Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keeler is 1,575 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.0%.

1881 census count

883

Ranked #4,300

Modern count

1,492

2016, ranked #4,145

Peak year

2000

1,575 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keeler had 883 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,300 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,492 in 2016, ranked #4,145.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,286 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Keeler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keeler surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keeler 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 489 #5,104
1861 historical 454 #5,705
1881 historical 883 #4,300
1891 historical 843 #4,841
1901 historical 1,089 #4,437
1911 historical 1,286 #3,702
1997 modern 1,482 #3,948
1998 modern 1,504 #4,038
1999 modern 1,550 #3,967
2000 modern 1,575 #3,901
2001 modern 1,521 #3,939
2002 modern 1,574 #3,915
2003 modern 1,496 #4,010
2004 modern 1,490 #4,028
2005 modern 1,441 #4,092
2006 modern 1,438 #4,111
2007 modern 1,418 #4,189
2008 modern 1,429 #4,192
2009 modern 1,478 #4,162
2010 modern 1,506 #4,172
2011 modern 1,477 #4,199
2012 modern 1,462 #4,170
2013 modern 1,509 #4,138
2014 modern 1,515 #4,144
2015 modern 1,500 #4,142
2016 modern 1,492 #4,145

Geography

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Where Keelers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Denton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, South Norfolk and Thanet. 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 Denton Kent
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
5 Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 013 Redcar and Cleveland
2 South Norfolk 006 South Norfolk
3 Redcar and Cleveland 012 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Thanet 013 Thanet
5 South Norfolk 008 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keeler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keeler

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

London Fringe

Within London, Keeler is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Keeler is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Keeler

The surname Keeler is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word "cȳlre," which means "chalker" or "lime-burner." This occupational name was given to those who worked with lime or chalk, likely referring to those involved in the production of lime for building or agricultural purposes.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the late 12th century in Norfolk, England. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John le Kylere, mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk in 1198. The name also appears in various other historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202, where a Thomas le Kelere is listed.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in its more modern spelling of Keeler, as evidenced by records from Cambridgeshire mentioning a Richard Keeler in 1273. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, where many places derived their names from the Old English word "cȳlre," such as Kilverstone in Norfolk.

One notable individual bearing the Keeler surname was John Keeler (c. 1590-1664), an English settler who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 1600s. He was among the founders of the town of Boylston, Massachusetts, and his descendants played a significant role in the region's development.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Keeler (1661-1753), an American colonial militia officer and politician from Connecticut. He served as a deputy to the Connecticut General Assembly and was involved in the defense of the colony during the French and Indian War.

In the literary world, Ruby Keeler (1909-1993) was an American actress, dancer, and singer who rose to fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood musicals. She is best known for her performances in films such as 42nd Street (1933) and Footlight Parade (1933).

Ralph Keeler (1914-1987) was an American architect who designed numerous notable buildings in the Southwestern United States, including the Phoenix Art Museum and the Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The Keeler surname has also been associated with scientific achievements. James Edward Keeler (1857-1900) was an American astrophysicist and pioneering spectroscopist who made significant contributions to the study of stellar spectra and the discovery of the Keeler Gap in Saturn's rings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keeler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keeler 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. Kent leads with 369 Keelers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.51x.

County Total Index
Kent 369 12.51x
Norfolk 157 11.81x
Middlesex 116 1.34x
Surrey 60 1.42x
Gloucestershire 38 2.24x
Durham 27 1.05x
Lancashire 23 0.22x
Yorkshire 20 0.23x
Suffolk 12 1.14x
Cambridgeshire 10 1.83x
Northumberland 10 0.78x
Oxfordshire 10 1.87x
Cheshire 8 0.42x
Sussex 6 0.41x
Essex 3 0.18x
Royal Navy 3 2.91x
Warwickshire 3 0.14x
Derbyshire 2 0.15x
Hampshire 2 0.11x
Somerset 2 0.14x
Berkshire 1 0.15x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Devon 1 0.06x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Shropshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Folkestone in Kent leads with 41 Keelers recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.68x.

Place Total Index
Folkestone 41 71.68x
Barham 24 800.00x
Camberwell 24 4.35x
Faversham 24 85.35x
Oulton 20 1785.71x
Denton In Dover 19 4634.15x
Alkham 16 941.18x
Buckland In Dover 15 153.53x
Hythe St Leonard 15 143.95x
Shoreditch London 15 4.00x
Charlton 14 71.50x
Bristol St James In 13 52.15x
Hackney London 12 2.48x
Great Yarmouth 11 9.99x
Murston 11 423.08x
Norwich St Benedict 11 185.81x
Bethnal Green London 10 2.66x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 17.69x
Corpusty 10 892.86x
Newmarket All Sts 10 247.52x
Swingfield 10 877.19x
Tottenham 10 7.26x
Bergh Apton 9 647.48x
Elham 9 255.68x
Holy Trinity 9 4.37x
Newington 9 2.82x
Plawsworth 9 322.58x
Poplar London 9 5.52x
Beckenham 8 20.75x
Chilham 8 190.48x
Eastling 8 563.38x
Forncett St Peter 8 437.16x
Frindsbury 8 72.01x
Latchford 8 63.14x
Oldham 8 2.42x
St Pancras London 8 1.15x
Swannington 8 833.33x
Waltham 8 533.33x
Acrise 7 1076.92x
Bridge 7 275.59x
Dymchurch 7 426.83x
Foulsham 7 249.11x
Islington London 7 0.84x
Limpsfield 7 173.70x
Little Ryburgh 7 1296.30x
Ospringe 7 192.84x
Westminster St John 7 6.65x
Bradwell 6 365.85x
Canterbury St Mildred 6 85.71x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.94x
Cockfield 6 167.13x
Ludham 6 255.32x
Mile End Old Town 6 4.40x
Oxford St Ebbe 6 38.19x
Battersea 5 1.57x
Bradford 5 2.41x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 3.07x
East Dereham 5 29.78x
Eltham 5 28.94x
Hammersmith London 5 2.35x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 4.49x
Huyton With Roby 5 41.60x
Liverpool 5 0.80x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 6.51x
North Creake 5 276.24x
Stelling Minnis 5 1785.71x
Streatham 5 7.80x
Wood Dalling 5 349.65x
Bodham 4 449.44x
Bromley London 4 2.10x
Erith 4 13.77x
Hackington St Stephen 4 211.64x
Lower Hardres 4 476.19x
Milton In Milton 4 31.92x
Norton Folgate London 4 141.34x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 4 150.94x
Reepham With Kerdiston 4 256.41x
Sibertswold 4 258.06x
Stalham 4 157.48x
Sunderland 4 8.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 51
George 42
John 39
Thomas 27
Charles 25
James 22
Henry 21
Robert 17
Edward 16
Richard 15
Arthur 11
Stephen 11
Walter 11
Albert 10
Joseph 8
Alfred 7
Ernest 7
Frederick 7
Samuel 5
David 4
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Daniel 3
Harry 3
Cornelius 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Jonathan 2
Miles 2
Percy 2
Rudolph 2
Thos. 2
Adolphus 1
Algernon 1
Anne 1
Benjn. 1
Cecil 1
Cornealous 1
Elial 1
Ellis 1
Fred 1
Fredk.P. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Ar. 1
Jesse 1
Jessey 1
Josiah 1
Lemon 1
Leonard 1
Wm.B.F. 1

FAQ

Keeler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keeler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 883 people were recorded with the Keeler surname. That placed it at #4,300 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keeler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,492 in 2016. That gives Keeler a modern rank of #4,145.

What does the Keeler surname mean?

An occupational surname denoting a bargeman or boatman who steers a barge or boat.

What does the Keeler map show?

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