NameCensus.

UK surname

Keighley

A locality surname derived from the town of Keighley in West Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,604 people recorded with the Keighley surname, ranking it #2,661 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,209, ranked #4,920, down from #2,661 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Bradford and Keighley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ribble Valley, Bradford and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keighley is 1,865 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.6%.

1881 census count

1,604

Ranked #2,661

Modern count

1,209

2016, ranked #4,920

Peak year

1911

1,865 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keighley had 1,604 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,661 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,209 in 2016, ranked #4,920.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,865 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Keighley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keighley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keighley 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 946 #2,934
1861 historical 944 #2,937
1881 historical 1,604 #2,661
1891 historical 1,638 #2,734
1901 historical 1,826 #2,879
1911 historical 1,865 #2,654
1997 modern 1,270 #4,487
1998 modern 1,307 #4,548
1999 modern 1,293 #4,621
2000 modern 1,295 #4,596
2001 modern 1,264 #4,602
2002 modern 1,284 #4,621
2003 modern 1,259 #4,616
2004 modern 1,252 #4,633
2005 modern 1,219 #4,691
2006 modern 1,208 #4,744
2007 modern 1,204 #4,804
2008 modern 1,201 #4,838
2009 modern 1,220 #4,870
2010 modern 1,254 #4,865
2011 modern 1,245 #4,834
2012 modern 1,216 #4,859
2013 modern 1,236 #4,869
2014 modern 1,244 #4,856
2015 modern 1,209 #4,939
2016 modern 1,209 #4,920

Geography

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Where Keighleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Bradford, Keighley and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ribble Valley, Bradford 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ribble Valley 006 Ribble Valley
2 Bradford 019 Bradford
3 Ribble Valley 004 Ribble Valley
4 Kensington and Chelsea 010 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Bradford 020 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keighley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keighley

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Keighley is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Keighley is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Keighley 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 Keighley 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 Keighley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Keighley

The surname Keighley is an English locational name derived from the town of Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "cēgel" meaning "cockerel" and "lēah" meaning "meadow or clearing," suggesting the name may have referred to a meadow where cockerels were found or raised.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Keighley dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cinghelai." This indicates the name's long-standing presence in the region and its evolution over time.

During the medieval period, the name Keighley was associated with various individuals from the town and surrounding areas. One notable example is John de Keighley, a 14th-century landowner and Lord of the Manor of Keighley, whose family held significant influence in the region.

As people migrated from Keighley to other parts of England and beyond, the surname spread and took on different spellings, such as Keighly, Keigheley, and Kighley. This variation in spelling was common before standardized spelling practices were established.

In the 16th century, records show a William Keighley born in 1520 in Yorkshire, who was a prominent merchant and landowner. Another noteworthy figure was Thomas Keighley (1692-1772), an English clergyman and author who published several theological works.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Keighley became more widespread, with bearers found in various parts of England. One such individual was John Keighley (1703-1786), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Liverpool.

In the 19th century, the Keighley surname gained further recognition with the rise of industrialists and entrepreneurs. Henry Keighley (1806-1876) was a prominent businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bradford, while his brother, Thomas Keighley (1808-1876), was a successful textile manufacturer and inventor.

Throughout history, the surname Keighley has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from landowners and clergymen to businessmen and politicians, reflecting the name's enduring presence in English society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keighley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keighley 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,172 Keighleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.57x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,172 7.57x
Lancashire 252 1.36x
Middlesex 58 0.37x
Surrey 25 0.33x
Cheshire 21 0.61x
Durham 13 0.28x
Northumberland 11 0.47x
Kent 8 0.15x
Leicestershire 6 0.35x
Cumberland 5 0.37x
Isle of Man 4 1.38x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.21x
Devon 3 0.09x
Glamorgan 3 0.11x
Essex 2 0.06x
Hampshire 2 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.10x
Sussex 2 0.08x
Channel Islands 1 0.22x
Flintshire 1 0.24x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Inverness-shire 1 0.21x
Radnorshire 1 0.79x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
Warwickshire 1 0.03x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Calverley Cum Farsley in Yorkshire leads with 146 Keighleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 332.27x.

Place Total Index
Calverley Cum Farsley 146 332.27x
Keighley 111 67.29x
Idle 79 110.09x
Manningham 66 34.62x
Bradford 59 15.75x
Bramley In Bramley 56 94.53x
Hunslet 46 19.06x
Horton In Bradford 37 15.31x
Pudsey 35 42.31x
Leeds 33 3.78x
Shipley 30 37.36x
Bingley 29 29.42x
Ribchester 26 371.43x
Batley 21 14.28x
Halifax 21 9.24x
Gorton 19 10.91x
Blackburn 17 3.45x
Pontefract 17 50.99x
Habergham Eaves 16 9.45x
Ilkley 16 63.27x
Newton 16 11.20x
Southowram 16 33.87x
Tong 16 53.53x
Wyke In Bradford 16 57.80x
Eccleshill 15 39.83x
Headingley Cum Burley 15 15.06x
Wortley In Bramley 15 12.24x
Mirfield 14 16.48x
Salford 14 2.57x
Chapel Allerton 13 56.13x
Great Bolton 12 4.89x
Preston 12 2.42x
Rawdon 11 60.37x
Soothill 11 19.68x
St Pancras London 11 0.88x
Bowling 10 6.52x
Hulme 10 2.58x
Shelf 10 67.66x
Upsall In Thirsk 10 1515.15x
Yeadon 10 28.61x
Burnley 9 5.77x
Dilworth 9 79.30x
Dukinfield 9 5.65x
Layton With Warbreck 9 13.23x
Guiseley 8 40.36x
Heckmondwike 8 16.07x
Methley 8 36.71x
Northowram 8 7.37x
Ovenden 8 11.61x
Southwark St John 8 16.75x
St Marylebone London 8 0.96x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 7 12.46x
Armley 7 10.25x
Bedlington 7 9.02x
Clitheroe 7 12.83x
North Bierley 7 8.38x
Poulton Barre 7 33.21x
Rothwell 7 22.39x
Ruswarp 7 40.67x
Skipton 7 14.37x
Worsley 7 6.13x
Allerton 6 30.41x
Cleckheaton 6 10.52x
Hackney London 6 0.69x
Heaton 6 36.08x
Holbeck 6 5.85x
Humberstone 6 42.16x
Nether Hallam 6 2.87x
Newton In Ashton Under 6 17.64x
Wuerdle Wardle 6 10.67x
Accrington 5 2.97x
Castleton 5 2.70x
Dewsbury 5 3.15x
Falsgrave 5 21.92x
Kirkham 5 20.41x
Liverpool 5 0.44x
St Luke London 5 2.00x
Stockton On Tees 5 2.23x
Tintwistle 5 27.14x
Onchan 4 4.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 114
Elizabeth 70
Sarah 55
Martha 43
Ann 34
Hannah 30
Alice 27
Emma 26
Annie 24
Jane 22
Eliza 19
Margaret 18
Emily 17
Harriet 17
Ellen 16
Maria 14
Ada 13
Clara 11
Catherine 10
Edith 10
Sophia 10
Florence 9
Grace 7
Louisa 7
Ruth 6
Anne 5
Elizth. 5
Esther 5
Isabella 5
Rose 5
Selina 5
Susannah 5
Betsy 4
Betty 4
Eleanor 4
Fanny 4
Lavinia 4
Lily 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Bertha 3
Bridget 3
Caroline 3
Eva 3
Frances 3
Lucy 3
Margt. 3
Nanny 3
Rachel 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 84
William 68
James 57
Joseph 43
Thomas 34
Charles 26
George 24
Henry 23
Samuel 22
Arthur 19
Alfred 17
Fred 17
Edward 16
David 14
Benjamin 13
Herbert 12
Wm. 12
Walter 11
Albert 10
Edwin 10
Richard 10
Harry 8
Isaac 8
Abraham 7
Frank 5
Gilbert 5
Jeremiah 5
Robert 5
Willie 5
Daniel 4
Francis 4
Frederick 4
Wright 4
Abednego 3
Amos 3
Christopher 3
Edwd. 3
Jonas 3
Jonathan 3
Josiah 3
Reuben 3
Sam 3
Tom 3
Charlie 2
Ernest 2
Fox 2
Lewis 2
Matthew 2
Norman 2
Peter 2

FAQ

Keighley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keighley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,604 people were recorded with the Keighley surname. That placed it at #2,661 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keighley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,209 in 2016. That gives Keighley a modern rank of #4,920.

What does the Keighley surname mean?

A locality surname derived from the town of Keighley in West Yorkshire, England.

What does the Keighley map show?

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