UK surname
A Dutch surname derived from the personal name Cornelis or Kees, a short form of Cornelis.
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Kees surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 40, ranked #35,434, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Llanwnda, London parishes and Llanwonno. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kees is 238 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.3%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
40
2016, ranked #35,434
Peak year
1891
238 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kees surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kees surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 78 | #19,840 |
| 1861 | historical | 227 | #10,749 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 238 | #13,202 |
| 1901 | historical | 72 | #26,162 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 25 | #35,261 |
| 1998 | modern | 25 | #35,365 |
| 1999 | modern | 25 | #35,413 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 21 | #35,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 19 | #36,534 |
| 2009 | modern | 20 | #36,534 |
| 2010 | modern | 23 | #36,400 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 24 | #36,288 |
| 2013 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 37 | #35,593 |
| 2016 | modern | 40 | #35,434 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Llanwnda, London parishes, Llanwonno and Roath. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Llanwnda | Pembrokeshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Llanwonno | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Roath | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kees surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kees, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Kees surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kees household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Kees is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kees is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kees, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "KEES" is of Dutch origin, and it can be traced back to the 16th century in the Netherlands. It is derived from the Dutch word "Kees," which is a diminutive form of the name "Cornelius." The name was particularly common in the provinces of North Holland and South Holland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Dutch archives from the late 1500s. In these records, a man named Pieter Kees is mentioned as a resident of the city of Amsterdam.
The name "KEES" can also be linked to various place names in the Netherlands, such as Keestergat, a small village in the municipality of Schagen. This village's name is believed to have originated from the surname "KEES," suggesting that the name was well-established in the region.
In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname "KEES" was Jan Kees, a Dutch painter born in 1628 in Haarlem. His works, primarily depicting landscapes and seascapes, were highly regarded during his lifetime.
Another prominent individual with the surname "KEES" was Willem Kees, born in 1796 in Rotterdam. He was a renowned Dutch architect who designed several notable buildings in the city, including the Rotterdamse Schouwburg (Rotterdam Theater).
In the 19th century, Cornelius Kees, born in 1825 in Amsterdam, was a successful merchant and philanthropist. He was known for his contributions to various charitable organizations and his support for education initiatives in the city.
Around the same period, Johanna Kees, born in 1841 in Leiden, was a pioneering Dutch educator. She played a significant role in establishing new teaching methods and advocating for educational reforms in the Netherlands.
While the surname "KEES" is primarily associated with the Netherlands, it has also been found in other parts of Europe and in countries with Dutch settlements, such as South Africa and the United States, due to migration patterns.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kees surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 5 Kees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 5 | 7.42x |
| Dunbartonshire | 4 | 43.62x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 5.98x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.17x |
| Devon | 3 | 4.22x |
| Kent | 3 | 2.58x |
| Suffolk | 3 | 7.22x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 3.37x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 1.81x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 3.40x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.43x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 3.12x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 19.46x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chingford in Essex leads with 5 Kees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3125.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Chingford | 5 | 3125.00x |
| Gloucester St John Baptist | 4 | 930.23x |
| New Kilpatrick | 4 | 459.77x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 16.47x |
| Sudbury St Gregory | 3 | 909.09x |
| Wolborough | 3 | 333.33x |
| Barony | 2 | 7.16x |
| Dover St James | 2 | 392.16x |
| Bathgate | 1 | 89.29x |
| Bromley | 1 | 56.50x |
| Eglwysilan | 1 | 97.09x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 12.30x |
| Millbrook | 1 | 56.82x |
| Rickergate | 1 | 161.29x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 6.76x |
| Swansea St Thomas | 1 | 166.67x |
| Weedon Beck | 1 | 434.78x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kees surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kees surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Kees households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Labourer Agr | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Accountant | 1 |
| Agent Officer of Customs (CSO) | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Assistant (Shop) | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Dividends | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Grocers | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Mechanical Engineer (E & M) | 1 |
| Private 69th Foot | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher (School) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Kees surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 40 in 2016. That gives Kees a modern rank of #35,434.
A Dutch surname derived from the personal name Cornelis or Kees, a short form of Cornelis.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kees bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.