NameCensus.

UK surname

Keetch

A variant of the English surname Kitchen, relating to someone living near or employed in a kitchen.

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Keetch surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 203, ranked #19,396, down from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Chard and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torbay and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keetch is 267 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.5%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

203

2016, ranked #19,396

Peak year

1911

267 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keetch had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016, ranked #19,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 267 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Keetch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keetch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keetch 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 99 #17,294
1861 historical 86 #22,810
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 186 #15,740
1901 historical 248 #13,204
1911 historical 267 #12,360
1997 modern 217 #16,761
1998 modern 231 #16,555
1999 modern 223 #17,025
2000 modern 215 #17,388
2001 modern 214 #17,211
2002 modern 211 #17,696
2003 modern 206 #17,799
2004 modern 210 #17,644
2005 modern 199 #18,198
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 201 #18,584
2009 modern 199 #19,090
2010 modern 217 #18,443
2011 modern 203 #19,098
2012 modern 201 #19,147
2013 modern 204 #19,276
2014 modern 202 #19,575
2015 modern 199 #19,640
2016 modern 203 #19,396

Geography

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Where Keetchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Chard, St Leonard Shoreditch, Petherton, South and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torbay, Cornwall and South Norfolk. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Chard Somerset
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 Petherton, South Somerset
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 021 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 015 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Torbay 013 Torbay
4 Cornwall 055 Cornwall
5 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keetch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keetch

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Keetch 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

Keetch 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

Keetch falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Keetch

The surname Keetch is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period, specifically the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "cyte," which meant a small temporary dwelling or a hut. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a cottage or a small house.

The earliest known recorded instance of the Keetch surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, dated 1273, where it appears as "William Kecche." This historical document served as a tax record during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable insights into the surnames prevalent at that time.

Another notable reference to the Keetch name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk, dated 1327, where it is listed as "John Kecche." These rolls were compiled for the purpose of collecting taxes and provide a glimpse into the name's geographical distribution across different regions of England.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as "Ketch," "Keche," and "Kechie," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that era. One of the earliest recorded instances of the "Keetch" spelling can be found in the parish records of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate, London, in 1579, where a certain "Thomas Keetch" is mentioned.

Amongst notable individuals bearing the Keetch surname, one can mention Sir Henry Keetch (1626-1696), an English naval officer and explorer who served as a captain in the Royal Navy during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. He is credited with mapping parts of the coast of South America and the Caribbean.

Another prominent figure was John Keetch (1630-1686), an English Baptist minister and writer, known for his work "The Distracted State of the Baptist Interest," published in 1673. He played a significant role in the early development of the Baptist movement in England.

In the literary realm, James Keetch (1854-1904) was an English novelist and short story writer, best known for his works "The Midnight Watch" and "The Man Who Knew Too Much."

The Keetch surname can also be found in the United States, where one of the earliest recorded instances is that of William Keetch, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. Another notable American bearer of the name was John Keetch (1801-1879), a prominent abolitionis and and philanthropist from Philadelphia.

Throughout history, the Keetch surname has been associated with various professions, including military service, clergy, literature, and activism, reflecting the diverse contributions of individuals bearing this name across different fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keetch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keetch 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. Somerset leads with 45 Keetchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.50x.

County Total Index
Somerset 45 24.50x
Middlesex 38 3.33x
Kent 8 2.05x
Bedfordshire 6 10.15x
Gloucestershire 6 2.68x
Cambridgeshire 5 6.92x
Devon 5 2.11x
Dorset 1 1.34x
Hertfordshire 1 1.27x
Surrey 1 0.18x
Worcestershire 1 0.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chard in Somerset leads with 21 Keetchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 945.95x.

Place Total Index
Chard 21 945.95x
Islington London 12 10.85x
Shoreditch London 12 24.26x
South Petherton 9 947.37x
Combe St Nicholas 8 1818.18x
Kempston 6 447.76x
St Pancras London 6 6.53x
Woolwich 6 41.72x
East Stonehouse 5 106.84x
Hackney London 5 7.82x
St Andrewthe Less 5 60.53x
Stoke Under Hambdon 5 833.33x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 14.24x
Hampstead London 3 16.88x
Bristol St George 2 19.32x
Bedminster 1 5.79x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 13.40x
Crayford 1 58.82x
Dudley 1 5.52x
Hawkchurch 1 434.78x
Lambeth 1 1.01x
Staplegrove 1 454.55x
Walmer 1 59.17x
Watford 1 16.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 8
James 7
William 6
Samuel 4
George 3
Henry 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
Robert 2
Charles 1
Curtis 1
Earnest 1
Ezekiel 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Geo. 1
Joseph 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Solomon 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Keetch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keetch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Keetch surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keetch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016. That gives Keetch a modern rank of #19,396.

What does the Keetch surname mean?

A variant of the English surname Kitchen, relating to someone living near or employed in a kitchen.

What does the Keetch map show?

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