NameCensus.

UK surname

Keely

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cadhla, meaning "descendant of Cadhla," a personal name derived from "cadhla" meaning "graceful."

In the 1881 census there were 311 people recorded with the Keely surname, ranking it #9,470 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 301, ranked #14,696, down from #9,470 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Oxfordshire, South Ribble and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keely is 421 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.2%.

1881 census count

311

Ranked #9,470

Modern count

301

2016, ranked #14,696

Peak year

1891

421 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keely had 311 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,470 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 301 in 2016, ranked #14,696.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 421 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Keely surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keely surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Keely 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 294 #7,758
1861 historical 310 #8,175
1881 historical 311 #9,470
1891 historical 421 #8,502
1901 historical 321 #11,118
1911 historical 241 #13,229
1997 modern 281 #14,110
1998 modern 289 #14,208
1999 modern 293 #14,175
2000 modern 282 #14,532
2001 modern 276 #14,507
2002 modern 280 #14,660
2003 modern 276 #14,604
2004 modern 268 #14,995
2005 modern 263 #15,139
2006 modern 259 #15,370
2007 modern 256 #15,647
2008 modern 261 #15,597
2009 modern 276 #15,300
2010 modern 288 #15,162
2011 modern 286 #15,091
2012 modern 276 #15,427
2013 modern 286 #15,259
2014 modern 291 #15,168
2015 modern 297 #14,863
2016 modern 301 #14,696

Geography

Back to top

Where Keelys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Manchester, St Marylebone and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Oxfordshire, South Ribble, Waveney, Westminster and Herefordshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Oxfordshire 004 South Oxfordshire
2 South Ribble 004 South Ribble
3 Waveney 010 Waveney
4 Westminster 004 Westminster
5 Herefordshire 001 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Keely

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Keely

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Keely surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Keely household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Keely is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Keely 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

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

Meaning and origin of Keely

The surname Keely originated in Ireland, specifically in the northern region of County Antrim. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "caol" and "caolaidhe," meaning slender or thin. The name likely referred to a person's physical appearance or stature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Keely surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The annals mention a certain Conchobhar Caolaidhe, who lived in the 13th century and was a member of the Uí Néill dynasty.

In the 16th century, the Keely surname appears in various legal documents and land records from County Antrim. For instance, a John Keely is listed as a landowner in the Rathlin Island area in 1585.

During the 17th century, the Keely family was involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 against English rule. A notable figure at the time was Patrick Keely, who fought alongside the Irish Confederate forces and was later pardoned for his involvement.

As the Keely family spread across Ireland and beyond, various spelling variations emerged, such as Keeley, Keelie, and O'Keely. In the 18th century, a prominent architect named James Keely (1737-1810) designed several notable buildings in Dublin, including the Royal Exchange and the Rotunda Hospital.

Another noteworthy individual with the Keely surname was Patrick Joseph Keely (1816-1896), an Irish-American architect who designed numerous churches and cathedrals in the United States, particularly in the Gothic Revival style. Some of his most famous works include the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

In the 19th century, John Keely (1827-1898), an American inventor and alleged perpetual motion machine builder, gained notoriety for his claims of having developed a revolutionary motor powered by a mysterious force he called the "Keely Motor." Despite numerous public demonstrations, his invention was ultimately deemed a hoax by the scientific community.

Other notable individuals with the Keely surname include John Keely (1822-1890), an Irish-born American Catholic priest and educator who co-founded the University of Notre Dame, and Michael Keely (1871-1962), an Irish-born American labor leader and president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1916 to 1924.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Keely families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keely 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 71 Keelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.01x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 71 2.01x
Middlesex 37 1.24x
Norfolk 32 7.00x
Surrey 22 1.52x
Yorkshire 20 0.68x
Sussex 18 3.59x
Suffolk 13 3.59x
Gloucestershire 12 2.06x
Cheshire 10 1.52x
Warwickshire 10 1.33x
Lanarkshire 9 0.94x
Durham 7 0.79x
Renfrewshire 6 2.60x
Glamorgan 5 0.97x
Cambridgeshire 4 2.12x
Staffordshire 4 0.40x
Berkshire 3 1.34x
Derbyshire 3 0.64x
Hampshire 3 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.75x
Northumberland 2 0.45x
Worcestershire 2 0.51x
Bedfordshire 1 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.56x
Devon 1 0.16x
Herefordshire 1 0.82x
Kent 1 0.10x
Monmouthshire 1 0.46x
Northamptonshire 1 0.36x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.06x
Shropshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 20 Keelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.60x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 20 12.60x
Strumpshaw 10 2439.02x
Wortham 10 1030.93x
Blackrod 8 182.23x
Glasgow 8 4.68x
Herstmonceaux 8 529.80x
St Marylebone London 8 5.04x
Syderstone 8 1509.43x
Brighton 7 6.92x
Diss 7 178.57x
Kensington London 7 4.23x
Liverpool 7 3.26x
Skinningrove 7 386.74x
Aston 6 2.90x
Battersea 6 5.48x
Lambeth 6 2.31x
Mile End Old Town London 6 9.48x
Port Glasgow 6 53.81x
Stockport 6 17.75x
Widnes 6 23.57x
Aston Subedge 5 4166.67x
Islington London 5 1.73x
Stranton 5 16.78x
Bristol St Augustine 4 42.46x
Cardiff St John 4 23.64x
Great Yarmouth 4 10.56x
Haslingden 4 27.36x
Pontefract 4 62.99x
Southwark St John 4 43.96x
St Pancras London 4 1.67x
Toxteth Park 4 3.35x
Wisbech St Peter 4 42.33x
Bradford 3 4.20x
Buxton 3 76.14x
Everton 3 2.67x
Great Little Marsden 3 18.55x
Kirkdale 3 5.05x
Alverstoke 2 9.06x
Birmingham 2 0.80x
Bristol St Michael 2 40.00x
Burton Upon Trent 2 8.51x
Camberwell 2 1.05x
Clapham 2 5.38x
Croydon 2 2.49x
Gorton 2 6.03x
Hammersmith London 2 2.73x
Holy Trinity 2 2.82x
Huddersfield 2 4.66x
Paddington London 2 1.83x
Rickinghall Superior 2 344.83x
Runcorn 2 13.21x
Shipston On Stour 2 112.99x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 2 19.69x
Tynemouth 2 8.44x
Wilford 2 176.99x
Ampleforth Oswaldkirk 1 344.83x
Ardwick 1 3.14x
Ashby St Ledgers 1 370.37x
Bedwellty 1 2.63x
Birkenhead 1 1.91x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 5.14x
Canterbury St Mary 1 14.68x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.51x
Chalgrave 1 112.36x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 4.46x
Devonport 1 14.04x
Dewsbury 1 3.31x
Heathfield 1 49.26x
Hentland 1 169.49x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 7.28x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 5.79x
Newbury 1 13.99x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.96x
Redenhall 1 56.18x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 7.76x
St Giles In Fields London 1 6.85x
Sunninghill 1 32.26x
Tenby St Mary In 1 20.79x
Westoe 1 1.99x
Wigan 1 2.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 16
James 13
Thomas 11
Joseph 7
George 6
Daniel 4
Edward 4
Henry 4
Michael 4
Patrick 4
Peter 4
Robert 4
Andrew 3
Richard 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
David 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Horace 2
Samuel 2
Arthur 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Denis 1
Dennis 1
Denny 1
Edwin 1
Erasmus 1
Frederick 1
Giles 1
Harman 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jame 1
Johnathan 1
Lambert 1
Miles 1
Moris 1
Philph 1
Robt. 1
Ruben 1
Spencer 1
St 1
Thos. 1
Thos.A.S. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Keely surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keely surname in 1881?

In 1881, 311 people were recorded with the Keely surname. That placed it at #9,470 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keely surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 301 in 2016. That gives Keely a modern rank of #14,696.

What does the Keely surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cadhla, meaning "descendant of Cadhla," a personal name derived from "cadhla" meaning "graceful."

What does the Keely map show?

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