NameCensus.

UK surname

Keeper

A surname derived from an occupation, referring to a person tasked with guarding or maintaining something.

In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Keeper surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, down from #26,134 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Milnwood, Basildon and Bellshill South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keeper is 151 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126.4%.

1881 census count

53

Ranked #26,134

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

2002

151 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keeper had 53 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,134 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 138 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Multicultural Inner Suburbs.

Keeper surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keeper surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keeper 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 33 #27,390
1861 historical 138 #16,365
1881 historical 53 #26,134
1891 historical 97 #24,447
1901 historical 68 #26,598
1911 historical 96 #23,193
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 142 #22,406
1999 modern 144 #22,405
2000 modern 141 #22,648
2001 modern 140 #22,441
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 143 #22,367
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 139 #23,044
2007 modern 135 #23,824
2008 modern 141 #23,383
2009 modern 142 #23,791
2010 modern 136 #25,009
2011 modern 136 #24,819
2012 modern 121 #26,829
2013 modern 132 #25,789
2014 modern 132 #25,971
2015 modern 127 #26,494
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Keepers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, London parishes, St Mary Stratford-le-Bow and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Milnwood, Basildon, Bellshill South, Surrey Heath and Havering. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Mary Stratford-le-Bow London (East Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Milnwood North Lanarkshire
2 Basildon 021 Basildon
3 Bellshill South North Lanarkshire
4 Surrey Heath 008 Surrey Heath
5 Havering 021 Havering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keeper

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keeper

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

Baseline UK

Group

Multicultural Inner Suburbs

Nationally, the Keeper surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Multicultural Inner Suburbs, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Keeper household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house many younger and middle-aged adults with children. All ethnic minorities, apart from those identifying as Pakistani or Bangladeshi, appear to be present in above average proportions. Affiliation to Christian religions is uncommon. Long-term disability rates are low, mirrored in limited provision of unpaid care. Privately rented terrace houses and flats are the norm. Managerial, professional and technical occupations are prevalent, and work is rarely part time. Many individuals have degree level qualifications. These areas form the inner suburbs of many of the UK’s towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Keeper 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

Keeper 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

Keeper 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 Keeper is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Keeper

The surname KEEPER is of English origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "cepan," meaning "to keep" or "to guard." The name likely emerged as an occupational surname, referring to individuals who were responsible for guarding or maintaining a particular property, such as a castle, manor, or estate.

In the 11th century, the Norman Conquest of England brought about significant changes in the country's social structure and the introduction of new surnames. The name KEEPER may have been adopted during this period to identify individuals who held the position of a keeper or guardian of a specific location or property.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KEEPER can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "le Keper" and "Kepper," indicating its widespread use at the time.

During the medieval period, the surname KEEPER was often associated with individuals who held positions of authority and responsibility within the nobility or the Church. For example, John Keeper (c. 1350-1420) was a prominent English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Lincoln from 1408 until his death.

Another notable figure with the surname KEEPER was Sir Thomas Keeper (c. 1455-1516), an English lawyer and judge who held the position of Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 1513 to 1516. He played a significant role in the legal and political affairs of his time.

In the 16th century, the name KEEPER was also associated with various place names and locations. For instance, the village of Keepers Green in Buckinghamshire, England, likely derived its name from individuals with the surname KEEPER who resided or held land in the area.

Moving forward in history, Sir John Keeper (1627-1694) was an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal during the reign of Charles II. He was instrumental in shaping the legal and political landscape of 17th-century England.

Another prominent figure was Mary Keeper (1728-1807), an English writer and playwright who gained recognition for her works in the late 18th century. Her plays and novels explored themes of social commentary and gender dynamics, reflecting the changing attitudes of her time.

Throughout its history, the surname KEEPER has been associated with various occupations, professions, and positions of responsibility, reflecting the versatility of its origins and its enduring presence across different eras and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keeper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keeper 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 38 Keepers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.21x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 38 7.21x
Essex 4 3.85x
Northamptonshire 4 8.07x
Kent 3 1.67x
Surrey 2 0.78x
Monmouthshire 1 2.63x
Royal Navy 1 15.92x
Yorkshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bow London in Middlesex leads with 15 Keepers recorded in 1881 and an index of 223.55x.

Place Total Index
Bow London 15 223.55x
Hackney London 12 40.64x
Northampton All Sts 4 238.10x
Bethnal Green London 3 13.11x
East Ham 3 155.44x
Shoreditch London 3 13.14x
Camberwell 2 5.94x
Clerkenwell London 2 16.09x
Deptford St Paul 2 14.43x
Bedwellty 1 14.88x
Bromley London 1 8.63x
Islington London 1 1.96x
Leyton 1 55.87x
Middlesbrough 1 14.71x
Royal Navy 1 18.62x
St Martin In Fields 1 31.75x
Whitstable 1 113.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Jane 3
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Mary 2
A. 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Eliza 1
Hannah 1
Margret 1
Rebecca 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 7
Edward 3
Henry 3
Thomas 3
Charles 2
John 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Ephraim 1
F. 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Jno. 1
Richard 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Keeper households.

FAQ

Keeper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keeper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Keeper surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keeper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Keeper a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Keeper surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupation, referring to a person tasked with guarding or maintaining something.

What does the Keeper map show?

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