NameCensus.

UK surname

Keenan

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cianáin, meaning "descendant of Cianán," derived from a diminutive of cian, meaning "ancient."

In the 1881 census there were 2,533 people recorded with the Keenan surname, ranking it #1,764 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,215, ranked #803, up from #1,764 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Manchester and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keenan is 8,331 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 224.3%.

1881 census count

2,533

Ranked #1,764

Modern count

8,215

2016, ranked #803

Peak year

2014

8,331 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keenan had 2,533 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,764 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,215 in 2016, ranked #803.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,260 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Keenan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keenan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Keenan 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 789 #3,380
1861 historical 995 #2,801
1881 historical 2,533 #1,764
1891 historical 2,443 #1,928
1901 historical 3,260 #1,708
1911 historical 2,097 #2,390
1997 modern 7,380 #872
1998 modern 7,683 #876
1999 modern 7,759 #871
2000 modern 7,725 #872
2001 modern 7,543 #875
2002 modern 7,704 #875
2003 modern 7,569 #868
2004 modern 7,675 #854
2005 modern 7,649 #844
2006 modern 7,612 #844
2007 modern 7,722 #837
2008 modern 7,774 #837
2009 modern 8,040 #831
2010 modern 8,288 #817
2011 modern 8,151 #821
2012 modern 8,095 #808
2013 modern 8,240 #807
2014 modern 8,331 #803
2015 modern 8,230 #804
2016 modern 8,215 #803

Geography

Back to top

Where Keenans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Manchester, Gateshead, Neath Port Talbot and Greenock East. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 020 Rotherham
2 Manchester 015 Manchester
3 Gateshead 027 Gateshead
4 Neath Port Talbot 002 Neath Port Talbot
5 Greenock East Inverclyde

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Keenan

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Keenan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Keenan, 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 Keenan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Keenan 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, Keenan 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

Keenan is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Keenan 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 Keenan 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Keenan

The surname Keenan originated in Ireland, with roots dating back to ancient Gaelic times. It is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name O'Cianain, derived from the personal name Cianan, which means "ancient" or "little ancient one." The name is associated with County Derry and County Antrim in Northern Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The Annals mention a notable figure named Sluaghadach Ua Cianain, who was the chief poet of Ireland in the 10th century.

In the 11th century, the name appeared in the Domesday Book, a census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry referred to a landowner named Cheuenan, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of Keenan.

During the Middle Ages, the Keenan family held lands and estates in County Derry and County Antrim. One notable member was Niall Óg Ó Cianáin, a 15th-century Irish poet and historian from County Derry.

Another prominent figure was Andrew Keenan (1776-1828), an Irish-born soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later became a pioneer settler in Kentucky.

In the 19th century, John Keenan (1816-1865) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, known for his bravery and leadership in several battles, including the Battle of Chancellorsville.

William Joseph Keenan (1830-1907) was a Canadian Catholic priest and educator who founded St. Patrick's School in Hamilton, Ontario, and played a significant role in developing the city's educational system.

Harriet Keenan (1871-1954) was an American actress and playwright, known for her work on the Broadway stage in the early 20th century.

The Keenan surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Keenan's Cross in County Antrim and Keenan's Bridge in County Derry, reflecting the family's historical presence in those regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Keenan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keenan 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 515 Keenans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.75x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 515 1.75x
Lanarkshire 444 5.55x
Durham 300 4.07x
Yorkshire 218 0.89x
Renfrewshire 124 6.47x
Midlothian 101 3.05x
Cumberland 97 4.55x
Angus 84 3.66x
Cheshire 61 1.12x
Northumberland 60 1.63x
Middlesex 53 0.21x
Staffordshire 49 0.59x
Ayrshire 46 2.48x
Stirlingshire 34 3.72x
Dunbartonshire 30 4.51x
Derbyshire 29 0.75x
Wigtownshire 29 8.83x
Surrey 27 0.22x
Hampshire 24 0.47x
Dumfriesshire 19 3.48x
Warwickshire 18 0.29x
Glamorgan 15 0.35x
Roxburghshire 15 3.35x
Fife 13 0.89x
Isle of Man 13 2.83x
Aberdeenshire 10 0.44x
Kent 10 0.12x
Kirkcudbrightshire 10 2.79x
Essex 9 0.18x
Monmouthshire 8 0.45x
Shropshire 8 0.37x
West Lothian 7 1.88x
Bedfordshire 6 0.47x
Gloucestershire 6 0.12x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.48x
Northamptonshire 5 0.21x
Perthshire 5 0.45x
Royal Navy 5 1.70x
Devon 4 0.08x
Somerset 3 0.08x
Flintshire 2 0.30x
Leicestershire 2 0.07x
Selkirkshire 2 0.89x
Sussex 2 0.05x
Argyllshire 1 0.15x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.10x
Channel Islands 1 0.14x
Denbighshire 1 0.11x
Dorset 1 0.06x
Inverness-shire 1 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.07x
Worcestershire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 123 Keenans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.07x.

Place Total Index
Barony 123 6.07x
Glasgow 92 6.47x
Liverpool 86 4.82x
Govan 73 3.69x
Manchester 60 4.54x
Salford 47 5.44x
Liff Benvie 40 11.49x
Bradford 38 6.40x
West Greenock 38 11.04x
Gateshead 37 6.71x
Heworth 35 24.12x
Barrow In Furness 32 8.01x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 32 10.03x
Bothwell 30 13.82x
Abbey 28 9.57x
Warrington 28 8.04x
Dundee 27 3.15x
Leeds 26 1.88x
Derby St Alkmund 25 21.53x
Everton 24 2.56x
Toxteth Park 23 2.31x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 22 1.65x
Old Monkland 22 6.93x
Tranmere 22 10.96x
Collierley 21 64.02x
Cambuslang 20 24.79x
Cambusnethan 20 11.25x
Cockermouth 20 44.58x
Dumfries 19 35.23x
Bootle Cum Linacre 18 7.72x
Eccleston In Prescot 18 12.21x
Workington 18 14.75x
Birmingham 17 0.82x
Windle 17 10.29x
Lochee 16 78.24x
Spotland 15 4.59x
Escomb 14 41.38x
Hamilton 14 6.27x
Kirkdale 14 2.83x
Sheffield 14 1.79x
Cleckheaton 13 14.39x
Conside Knitsley 13 22.71x
Horton In Bradford 13 3.39x
Lambeth 13 0.60x
Neilston 13 13.50x
New Monkland 13 5.49x
South Leith 13 3.48x
Whickham 13 19.19x
Brandon Byshottles 12 13.01x
Edinburgh New North 12 41.59x
Kirkintilloch 12 13.28x
Kirkmaiden 12 57.69x
Onchan 12 9.06x
Birkenhead 11 2.53x
Campsie 11 21.96x
Elswick 11 3.74x
Gate Fulford 11 19.21x
Rutherglen 11 9.37x
St Cuthbert Within 11 44.55x
Cardross 10 12.52x
Forgan 10 35.63x
Kimblesworth 10 101.52x
Old Malton 10 64.85x
Port Glasgow 10 10.79x
St George In East London 10 4.30x
Westoe 10 2.40x
Wolverhampton 10 1.56x
Aldershot 9 5.30x
Blackburn 9 1.15x
Clitheroe 9 10.41x
Dundonald 9 13.18x
Falkirk 9 4.21x
Hetton Le Hole 9 9.65x
Hulme 9 1.47x
Portsea 9 0.91x
St Martin In Fields 9 6.07x
Walsall Foreign 9 2.09x
Westgate 9 3.95x
Wolsingham 9 13.41x
Wolstanton 9 3.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 170
Margaret 64
Elizabeth 51
Ann 49
Catherine 37
Ellen 35
Sarah 35
Jane 34
Bridget 28
Annie 19
Alice 15
Eliza 13
Agnes 12
Rose 12
Anne 9
Kate 9
Julia 8
Maria 7
Susan 6
Bridgett 5
Catharine 5
Elizth. 5
Margt. 5
Martha 5
Caroline 4
Frances 4
Hannah 4
Margret 4
Elizebeth 3
Esther 3
Amy 2
Barbara 2
Cath. 2
Cathrine 2
Christina 2
Clara 2
Dorothy 2
Eliz. 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Isabella 2
Isabl. 2
Katherine 2
Maggie 2
May 2
Susannah 2
Teresa 2
Winifort 2
Winifred 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 140
James 104
Thomas 79
Patrick 58
William 49
Michael 37
Peter 31
Edward 21
Joseph 17
Hugh 12
Robert 12
Henry 11
Arthur 10
Bernard 10
Daniel 10
Owen 10
Matthew 9
Charles 8
Francis 8
Andrew 7
Richard 7
Martin 6
George 5
Stephen 5
Thos. 5
Isaac 4
Samuel 4
Alexander 3
Chas. 3
David 3
Felix 3
Laurence 3
Mark 3
Nicholas 3
Robt. 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
Christopher 2
Denis 2
Dennis 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Frances 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Mathew 2
Micheal 2
Michl. 2
Pat 2
Beter 1

FAQ

Keenan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keenan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,533 people were recorded with the Keenan surname. That placed it at #1,764 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keenan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,215 in 2016. That gives Keenan a modern rank of #803.

What does the Keenan surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Cianáin, meaning "descendant of Cianán," derived from a diminutive of cian, meaning "ancient."

What does the Keenan map show?

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