NameCensus.

UK surname

Keene

From the Irish surname "O'Caidhín," derived from the Gaelic word "cadhán," meaning "battle" or "warrior."

In the 1881 census there were 1,759 people recorded with the Keene surname, ranking it #2,459 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,712, ranked #3,647, down from #2,459 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, Forest of Dean and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keene is 2,205 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.7%.

1881 census count

1,759

Ranked #2,459

Modern count

1,712

2016, ranked #3,647

Peak year

1911

2,205 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keene had 1,759 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,459 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,712 in 2016, ranked #3,647.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,205 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Keene surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keene surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keene 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 1,117 #2,524
1861 historical 949 #2,923
1881 historical 1,759 #2,459
1891 historical 1,666 #2,693
1901 historical 2,136 #2,521
1911 historical 2,205 #2,283
1997 modern 1,840 #3,272
1998 modern 1,932 #3,241
1999 modern 1,918 #3,292
2000 modern 1,918 #3,279
2001 modern 1,870 #3,286
2002 modern 1,850 #3,378
2003 modern 1,788 #3,413
2004 modern 1,777 #3,437
2005 modern 1,745 #3,460
2006 modern 1,748 #3,463
2007 modern 1,758 #3,480
2008 modern 1,766 #3,493
2009 modern 1,799 #3,508
2010 modern 1,807 #3,556
2011 modern 1,788 #3,550
2012 modern 1,723 #3,606
2013 modern 1,726 #3,653
2014 modern 1,751 #3,620
2015 modern 1,732 #3,624
2016 modern 1,712 #3,647

Geography

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Where Keenes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury, Forest of Dean, Wycombe, Windsor and Maidenhead and Torridge. 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 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 006 Tewkesbury
2 Forest of Dean 001 Forest of Dean
3 Wycombe 007 Wycombe
4 Windsor and Maidenhead 002 Windsor and Maidenhead
5 Torridge 005 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keene

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keene

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Keene is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Keene 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

Keene falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Keene

The surname Keene has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cene," meaning "bold" or "brave." The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1176, where it appears as "Kene."

The name Keene is also closely associated with the town of Keene in Hampshire, England. It is believed that some individuals may have adopted the surname Keene after being born or residing in this town. The town's name itself is derived from the Old English word "cene," suggesting a connection between the place name and the surname.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries for individuals with the name "Kene" or similar spellings, indicating the early presence of the name in various parts of the country.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Keene was Robert Keene, born in 1355 in Wiltshire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of Parliament during the reign of King Edward III.

Another notable figure was Sir Benjamin Keene (1697-1757), a British diplomat who served as the British Ambassador to Spain and Portugal. He played a significant role in negotiating the Treaty of Madrid in 1750, which helped establish a period of peace between Britain and Spain.

In the 16th century, the surname Keene appeared in the records of the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. One such individual was John Keene, a prosperous landowner and contemporary of Shakespeare, who was born around 1560.

Edmund Keene (1691-1781) was an English churchman and Bishop of Ely, known for his contributions to ecclesiastical architecture and his efforts in restoring and rebuilding churches in his diocese.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Ralph Keene (1597-1669), an English settler in colonial Virginia. He was among the early colonists who arrived in Virginia in the 1620s and played a role in the establishment of the colony.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Keene who have left their mark throughout history, illustrating the rich and varied background of this English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keene families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keene 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. Middlesex leads with 383 Keenes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.22x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 383 2.22x
Surrey 311 3.70x
Gloucestershire 109 3.22x
Warwickshire 97 2.23x
Wiltshire 96 6.30x
Buckinghamshire 91 8.73x
Kent 62 1.05x
Lancashire 62 0.30x
Berkshire 56 4.33x
Oxfordshire 50 4.70x
Hampshire 43 1.22x
Essex 41 1.21x
Somerset 35 1.26x
Monmouthshire 34 2.73x
Staffordshire 33 0.57x
Sussex 30 1.03x
Glamorgan 29 0.97x
Yorkshire 26 0.15x
Derbyshire 24 0.89x
Devon 16 0.45x
Leicestershire 13 0.68x
Hertfordshire 12 1.01x
Suffolk 12 0.57x
Worcestershire 12 0.53x
Cheshire 11 0.29x
Durham 11 0.21x
Herefordshire 11 1.56x
Carmarthenshire 7 0.96x
Northamptonshire 6 0.37x
Dorset 5 0.44x
Angus 4 0.25x
Flintshire 4 0.86x
Isle of Man 4 1.25x
Cornwall 3 0.15x
Cumberland 3 0.20x
Midlothian 3 0.13x
Northumberland 3 0.12x
Bedfordshire 2 0.22x
Channel Islands 2 0.39x
Lanarkshire 2 0.04x
Lincolnshire 2 0.07x
Merionethshire 2 0.63x
Royal Navy 2 0.97x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.09x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Shropshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 65 Keenes recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.31x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 65 15.31x
Coventry St Michael 61 43.69x
Hambleden 42 471.38x
St Pancras London 42 3.03x
Lambeth 38 2.53x
Kensington London 33 3.44x
Stroud 30 45.60x
Mortlake 26 69.46x
St Marylebone London 26 2.83x
Barnes 23 64.75x
Richmond 23 19.54x
Stanford In Vale 23 447.47x
West Ham 22 2.93x
Islington London 21 1.26x
Portsea 21 3.03x
Chelsea London 20 3.85x
Highworth 20 102.62x
Weybridge 19 105.44x
Swindon 18 15.22x
Newington 17 2.67x
Camberwell 16 1.45x
Battersea 15 2.37x
Chertsey 15 27.64x
Kingston On Thames 15 7.43x
Egham 14 27.15x
Paddington London 14 2.21x
Birmingham 13 0.90x
Stonehouse 13 67.67x
Hampstead London 12 4.47x
St George Hanover Square 12 3.95x
Wandsworth 12 7.23x
Fulham London 11 4.40x
Kingsley 11 101.48x
Over Norton 11 423.08x
Stoke Poges 11 86.55x
Stratton St Margaret 11 47.05x
Coventry Holy Trinity 10 7.70x
Holdenhurst 10 10.79x
North Bradley 10 89.85x
Toxteth Park 10 1.44x
Westminster St James 10 5.64x
Acton 9 8.91x
Brenchley 9 42.76x
Cheltenham 9 3.45x
Everton 9 1.38x
Walton On Thames 9 23.34x
Aston Clinton 8 90.60x
Beckenham 8 10.41x
Clerkenwell London 8 1.97x
Derby St Alkmund 8 9.89x
Farleigh Hungerford 8 733.95x
Felpham 8 239.52x
Hackney London 8 0.83x
Leyton 8 13.65x
Offerton 8 987.65x
Ross 8 28.46x
Shoreditch London 8 1.07x
St Gilesin Fields London 8 54.83x
Tottenham 8 2.91x
Armley 7 9.29x
Brighton 7 1.19x
Bucklebury 7 103.86x
Cirencester 7 15.29x
Ealing 7 4.54x
English Bicknor 7 187.17x
Kew 7 143.44x
Leicester St Margaret 7 1.50x
Little Missenden 7 106.54x
Preston 7 434.78x
Teddington London 7 17.93x
Ashford 6 10.48x
Bensington 6 88.37x
Guildford St Nicholas 6 40.43x
Lewisham 6 1.91x
Liddiard Millicent 6 114.72x
Mitcham 6 11.30x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 6 113.42x
Streatham 6 4.69x
Trelleck Grange 6 810.81x
Weston Super Mare 6 8.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 115
Sarah 54
Elizabeth 49
Eliza 38
Alice 34
Emma 31
Ellen 30
Annie 28
Emily 28
Jane 26
Caroline 25
Ann 20
Louisa 20
Harriet 18
Clara 17
Margaret 16
Martha 16
Florence 15
Hannah 14
Ada 13
Edith 12
Anne 11
Lucy 11
Maria 11
Charlotte 10
Helen 10
Kate 10
Fanny 9
Frances 9
Harriett 9
Isabella 8
Agnes 7
Amy 7
Catherine 6
Eleanor 6
Rose 6
Amelia 5
Elizth. 5
Gertrude 5
Jessie 5
Lydia 5
Rebecca 5
Sophia 5
Susan 5
Winifred 5
Ethel 4
Grace 4
Maryann 4
Ruth 4
Laura 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 91
John 89
Thomas 51
George 47
Charles 44
Henry 43
James 34
Alfred 33
Frederick 26
Joseph 25
Edward 23
Richard 21
Arthur 18
Samuel 12
Walter 12
Harry 9
Albert 7
Benjamin 7
David 7
Edwin 7
Ernest 7
Francis 7
Frank 7
Herbert 7
Robert 7
Stephen 7
Wm. 7
Jonathan 5
Chas. 4
Edmund 4
Percy 4
Peter 4
Raymond 4
Fredk. 3
Horace 3
Hugh 3
Rees 3
Roger 3
Sidney 3
Charley 2
Fredrick 2
Giles 2
H. 2
Harold 2
Jacob 2
Jesse 2
Louis 2
Morris 2
Percival 2
W. 2

FAQ

Keene surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keene surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,759 people were recorded with the Keene surname. That placed it at #2,459 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keene surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,712 in 2016. That gives Keene a modern rank of #3,647.

What does the Keene surname mean?

From the Irish surname "O'Caidhín," derived from the Gaelic word "cadhán," meaning "battle" or "warrior."

What does the Keene map show?

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