NameCensus.

UK surname

Kehoe

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eochaidh," meaning "son of Eochaidh" (a personal name meaning "horseman").

In the 1881 census there were 445 people recorded with the Kehoe surname, ranking it #7,373 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,903, ranked #3,340, up from #7,373 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Liverpool and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Hyndburn and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kehoe is 1,949 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 327.6%.

1881 census count

445

Ranked #7,373

Modern count

1,903

2016, ranked #3,340

Peak year

2014

1,949 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kehoe had 445 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,373 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,903 in 2016, ranked #3,340.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 592 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Kehoe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kehoe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kehoe 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 127 #14,547
1861 historical 188 #12,628
1881 historical 445 #7,373
1891 historical 422 #8,483
1901 historical 563 #7,409
1911 historical 592 #6,912
1997 modern 1,764 #3,389
1998 modern 1,850 #3,376
1999 modern 1,835 #3,417
2000 modern 1,842 #3,393
2001 modern 1,810 #3,377
2002 modern 1,786 #3,483
2003 modern 1,780 #3,423
2004 modern 1,767 #3,454
2005 modern 1,817 #3,344
2006 modern 1,814 #3,346
2007 modern 1,832 #3,345
2008 modern 1,846 #3,355
2009 modern 1,911 #3,325
2010 modern 1,927 #3,377
2011 modern 1,908 #3,362
2012 modern 1,875 #3,363
2013 modern 1,943 #3,317
2014 modern 1,949 #3,329
2015 modern 1,904 #3,357
2016 modern 1,903 #3,340

Geography

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Where Kehoes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Liverpool, West Derby, Bidstone and Walton-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Hyndburn, Pembrokeshire and Canterbury. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Liverpool Lancashire
3 West Derby Lancashire
4 Bidstone Cheshire
5 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 002 Bridgend
2 Bridgend 005 Bridgend
3 Hyndburn 003 Hyndburn
4 Pembrokeshire 002 Pembrokeshire
5 Canterbury 006 Canterbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kehoe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kehoe

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

Challenged Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Kehoe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kehoe is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kehoe falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kehoe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Kehoe

The surname Kehoe originated in Ireland and is a derivative of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Céadóga. This surname is believed to have emerged in the 10th or 11th century. It is an anglicized form of the name meaning "descendant of Céadóg," which was initially a personal name derived from the Old Irish words "céad," meaning "hundred," and "óg," meaning "young."

The Kehoe family's ancestral homeland was in the ancient territory of Leix, located in what is now County Laois in the Irish midlands. This area was once part of the Kingdom of Leinster, where the Kehoe clan held significant influence. The earliest recorded mention of the name can be traced back to the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle compiled in the 17th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Kehoe surname was Tadhg Ó Céadóga, a prominent chieftain who lived in the 13th century. He is mentioned in various medieval Irish manuscripts and is believed to have played a crucial role in the political landscape of Leix during that era.

In the 16th century, the Kehoe family was among the prominent Gaelic clans that resisted the English conquest of Ireland. During this turbulent period, many Kehoes were dispossessed of their lands and forced to seek refuge in other parts of the country. This led to the dispersal of the name throughout Ireland.

Another notable figure in the history of the Kehoe surname was Father James Kehoe (1609-1653), a Catholic priest who was executed during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland for his refusal to renounce his faith. He is remembered as a martyr and is revered by the Catholic Church.

In the 18th century, Luke Kehoe (1725-1803) was a prominent merchant and landowner in County Wexford. He played a significant role in the economic development of the region and was known for his philanthropic efforts.

During the 19th century, the Kehoe family produced several notable figures, including Michael Kehoe (1805-1874), a lawyer and politician who served as a member of the British Parliament for County Wexford, and John Kehoe (1838-1918), a Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in Ireland.

The name Kehoe has also been found in various spellings throughout history, such as Keogh, Keho, and Keeho, reflecting the regional variations and anglicizations of the original Irish name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kehoe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kehoe 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. Lancashire leads with 331 Kehoes recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.44x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 331 6.44x
Cheshire 43 4.50x
Cumberland 17 4.56x
Durham 13 1.01x
Kent 7 0.47x
Yorkshire 6 0.14x
Middlesex 5 0.12x
Angus 4 1.00x
Hampshire 4 0.45x
Lanarkshire 4 0.29x
Essex 3 0.35x
Flintshire 2 1.72x
Berkshire 1 0.31x
Glamorgan 1 0.13x
Renfrewshire 1 0.30x
Somerset 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 150 Kehoes recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.06x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 150 48.06x
Kirkdale 32 37.02x
Birkenhead 25 32.80x
Toxteth Park 21 12.07x
Everton 20 12.21x
Widnes 19 51.25x
Arlecdon 17 171.37x
West Derby 17 11.31x
Manchester 13 5.63x
Tranmere 10 28.46x
Garston 9 59.33x
Blackburn 8 5.85x
Lamesley 7 100.86x
Preston 7 5.09x
Walton On Hill 7 25.14x
Barrow In Furness 6 8.58x
North Meols 6 11.93x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 12.25x
Chapel Allerton 5 77.88x
Hetton Le Hole 5 30.62x
Liscard 5 29.02x
Lanark 4 35.49x
Liff Benvie 4 6.57x
Leyton 3 20.37x
Woolwich 3 5.50x
Chatham 2 4.92x
Hawarden Ewloe Town 2 158.73x
Little Bolton 2 3.03x
Much Woolton 2 28.69x
Old Artillery Ground 2 53.62x
Warblington 2 56.82x
Westminster St James 2 4.49x
Whiston 2 49.88x
Bathwick 1 12.97x
Birkdale 1 7.69x
Cardiff St Mary 1 2.41x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 6.49x
Claughton With Grange 1 22.99x
Farnborough 1 10.73x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 3.62x
Heap 1 3.67x
Minster In Sheppey 1 4.09x
Over Darwen 1 2.44x
Oxton 1 18.48x
Portsea 1 0.57x
Reading St Mary 1 3.84x
St Giles In Fields London 1 4.71x
Stockport 1 2.03x
Stretford 1 3.54x
Tanfield 1 6.53x
Wavertree 1 6.08x
West Greenock 1 1.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 60
Catherine 19
Margaret 19
Bridget 12
Ellen 9
Sarah 9
Elizabeth 8
Ann 7
Alice 6
Johanna 5
Anne 4
Annie 4
Jane 4
Eliza 3
Rose 3
Winifred 3
Anastasia 2
Elizth. 2
Hannah 2
Julia 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Susan 2
Anna 1
Annas 1
B. 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Caterina 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Grace 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Honorah 1
Kate 1
Lydia 1
Magaret 1
Margarat 1
Margrett 1
Margt. 1
Marie 1
Phoebe 1
Rosanna 1
Rosemary 1
Sabine 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 41
James 28
Thomas 27
Patrick 18
Michael 10
William 9
Joseph 7
Edward 6
Peter 6
Andrew 5
Martin 5
Richard 5
Christopher 4
George 4
Francis 3
Robert 3
Daniel 2
Denis 2
Lawrence 2
Nicholas 2
Thos. 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Ambrose 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Bartholemew 1
Bartholomew 1
Dennis 1
Fredrick 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Jas. 1
Laurence 1
Len 1
Luke 1
Moses 1
Nichol 1
Patk. 1
Paul 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Samuel 1
Simion 1
Sylvester 1
Terance 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Kehoe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kehoe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 445 people were recorded with the Kehoe surname. That placed it at #7,373 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kehoe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,903 in 2016. That gives Kehoe a modern rank of #3,340.

What does the Kehoe surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eochaidh," meaning "son of Eochaidh" (a personal name meaning "horseman").

What does the Kehoe map show?

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