NameCensus.

UK surname

Keevil

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from the town of Keevil in Wiltshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 253 people recorded with the Keevil surname, ranking it #10,980 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 355, ranked #13,020, down from #10,980 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton and Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Cornwall and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keevil is 408 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.3%.

1881 census count

253

Ranked #10,980

Modern count

355

2016, ranked #13,020

Peak year

1999

408 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keevil had 253 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,980 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 355 in 2016, ranked #13,020.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 379 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Keevil surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keevil surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keevil 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 148 #13,028
1861 historical 140 #16,169
1881 historical 253 #10,980
1891 historical 293 #11,319
1901 historical 379 #9,841
1911 historical 366 #9,936
1997 modern 379 #11,447
1998 modern 384 #11,727
1999 modern 408 #11,288
2000 modern 408 #11,232
2001 modern 391 #11,404
2002 modern 385 #11,771
2003 modern 368 #11,963
2004 modern 368 #12,001
2005 modern 353 #12,292
2006 modern 349 #12,473
2007 modern 366 #12,176
2008 modern 352 #12,631
2009 modern 365 #12,558
2010 modern 360 #12,953
2011 modern 369 #12,600
2012 modern 366 #12,520
2013 modern 375 #12,497
2014 modern 377 #12,535
2015 modern 366 #12,717
2016 modern 355 #13,020

Geography

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Where Keevils are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton, Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington and Bradley, North. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Cornwall, Medway, Stroud and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton Somerset
4 Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington Wiltshire
5 Bradley, North Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 010 Mendip
2 Cornwall 071 Cornwall
3 Medway 027 Medway
4 Stroud 004 Stroud
5 Kensington and Chelsea 012 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keevil

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keevil

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Keevil is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Keevil 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

Keevil falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Keevil

The surname KEEVIL has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the place name Keevil, a village located in Wiltshire, England. The name itself is believed to come from the Old English words "cefn" meaning ridge and "yll" meaning a site or place, suggesting it referred to a location on a ridge.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname KEEVIL can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry refers to a landowner named Radulfus de Cevil, likely an early spelling variation of the surname.

In the 13th century, a man named John de Kyvele was recorded as a resident of the village of Keevil in Wiltshire. This spelling variation provides insight into the evolution of the surname over time.

During the 16th century, a notable individual with the surname KEEVIL was Thomas Keevil, born around 1520 in Wiltshire. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a church warden for the parish of Keevil.

In the 17th century, a man named William KEEVIL, born in 1635, was a wealthy landowner and respected member of the gentry in Wiltshire. He owned several estates in the area and was known for his philanthropic efforts.

Another significant figure was Sir John KEEVIL, born in 1712, who served as a member of parliament for the borough of Calne in Wiltshire during the mid-18th century. He played an influential role in local politics and was known for his advocacy of agricultural reforms.

In the 19th century, a notable KEEVIL was Robert KEEVIL, born in 1825, who was a renowned architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including churches and public institutions.

Throughout its history, the surname KEEVIL has been closely tied to the village and surrounding areas of Wiltshire, England, reflecting its geographic origins. The name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, politicians, and professionals, contributing to the rich tapestry of English history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keevil families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keevil 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. Wiltshire leads with 59 Keevils recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.69x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 59 27.69x
Somerset 55 14.18x
Middlesex 34 1.41x
Surrey 34 2.90x
Kent 13 1.58x
Hampshire 11 2.23x
Berkshire 10 5.53x
Lancashire 8 0.28x
Glamorgan 6 1.43x
Norfolk 5 1.35x
Dorset 4 2.53x
Gloucestershire 3 0.63x
Warwickshire 3 0.49x
Oxfordshire 1 0.67x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beckington in Somerset leads with 17 Keevils recorded in 1881 and an index of 2236.84x.

Place Total Index
Beckington 17 2236.84x
Road 13 2765.96x
Battersea 12 13.54x
Deptford St Nicholas 10 153.37x
Camberwell 9 5.85x
Eling 9 180.00x
Willesden 9 39.63x
Melksham 8 216.22x
Newbury 8 138.17x
Wilsford 8 2666.67x
Hendon 6 69.20x
Lyneham 6 722.89x
Midsomer Norton 6 164.38x
Milton Lilborne 6 1200.00x
North Bradley 6 384.62x
Great Yarmouth 5 16.29x
Merton 5 243.90x
Bow London 4 13.04x
Broughton In Salford 4 15.30x
Cattistock 4 909.09x
Corsham 4 128.62x
High Ham 4 434.78x
Isleworth 4 37.35x
St Marylebone London 4 3.11x
Winkfield With Rowley 4 1333.33x
Barrow In Furness 3 7.72x
Bedminster 3 8.23x
Bermondsey 3 4.18x
Lewisham 3 6.84x
Liddington 3 882.35x
Roath 3 15.75x
Taunton St Mary 3 42.13x
Westport St Mary 3 194.81x
Wimbledon 3 22.76x
Aston 2 1.20x
Bourton 2 869.57x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 4.50x
Hampstead London 2 5.33x
Llanedarn 2 1052.63x
Newington 2 2.25x
North Brewham 2 1052.63x
St Pancras London 2 1.03x
Teffont Magna 2 833.33x
Trowbridge 2 21.23x
Walcot 2 9.69x
Aldershot 1 6.05x
Bathwick 1 23.31x
Bradford 1 1.73x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 6.35x
Bromley London 1 1.89x
Cardiff St John 1 7.30x
Charlecote 1 454.55x
Chippenham 1 22.37x
Chipping Norton 1 29.07x
Devizes St Mary 1 46.51x
Hillmarton 1 188.68x
Kensington London 1 0.75x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 9.85x
Mells 1 125.00x
Paddington London 1 1.13x
Pendlebury 1 16.56x
Potterne Marston 1 714.29x
Ramsbury 1 51.81x
Salisbury St Thomas 1 59.17x
Semington 1 285.71x
St Thomas Winchester 1 28.65x
Wellow 1 87.72x
Wincanton 1 50.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 13
Annie 6
Alice 5
Kate 5
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Clara 3
Edith 3
Harriet 3
Martha 3
Sarah 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Beatrice 2
Emma 2
Georgina 2
Helen 2
Laura 2
Maria 2
Nellie 2
Phebe 2
Anne 1
Avis 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Esmelia 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harry 1
Helena 1
Hester 1
Jane 1
Jeannette 1
Justin 1
Linda 1
Lousana 1
Maryan 1
Matilda 1
Maude 1
Miriam 1
Rachel 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
George 9
Ernest 6
Henry 6
Charles 5
Walter 5
William 5
Alfred 4
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
James 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Isaac 2
Job 2
Joshua 2
Silas 2
Arnold 1
Chas.H. 1
E.J. 1
Ebenezer 1
Elijah 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.K. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hezekiah 1
Hubert 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Jobe 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Noah 1
Oliver 1
Paul 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Sidny 1
Wm.Charles 1

FAQ

Keevil surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keevil surname in 1881?

In 1881, 253 people were recorded with the Keevil surname. That placed it at #10,980 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keevil surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 355 in 2016. That gives Keevil a modern rank of #13,020.

What does the Keevil surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from the town of Keevil in Wiltshire, England.

What does the Keevil map show?

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