NameCensus.

UK surname

Keightley

A locational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 700 people recorded with the Keightley surname, ranking it #5,189 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,044, ranked #5,589, down from #5,189 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Appleby, Clee and Boston (incl. Boston allotments). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Melton, Bedford and Chesterfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keightley is 1,124 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.1%.

1881 census count

700

Ranked #5,189

Modern count

1,044

2016, ranked #5,589

Peak year

1998

1,124 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keightley had 700 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,189 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,044 in 2016, ranked #5,589.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 931 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Keightley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keightley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keightley 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 397 #6,070
1861 historical 419 #6,133
1881 historical 700 #5,189
1891 historical 829 #4,899
1901 historical 813 #5,549
1911 historical 931 #4,819
1997 modern 1,091 #5,102
1998 modern 1,124 #5,158
1999 modern 1,119 #5,224
2000 modern 1,117 #5,205
2001 modern 1,093 #5,199
2002 modern 1,104 #5,258
2003 modern 1,072 #5,285
2004 modern 1,064 #5,331
2005 modern 1,042 #5,364
2006 modern 1,018 #5,473
2007 modern 1,047 #5,411
2008 modern 1,061 #5,369
2009 modern 1,067 #5,466
2010 modern 1,112 #5,388
2011 modern 1,088 #5,428
2012 modern 1,069 #5,415
2013 modern 1,072 #5,496
2014 modern 1,084 #5,474
2015 modern 1,079 #5,438
2016 modern 1,044 #5,589

Geography

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Where Keightleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Appleby, Clee, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Ilkeston and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Melton, Bedford and Chesterfield. 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 Appleby Lincolnshire
2 Clee Lincolnshire
3 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
4 Ilkeston Nottinghamshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Melton 004 Melton
2 Melton 005 Melton
3 Melton 002 Melton
4 Bedford 004 Bedford
5 Chesterfield 002 Chesterfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keightley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keightley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Keightley, 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 Keightley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Keightley 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Keightley is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Keightley is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Keightley 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 Keightley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Keightley

The surname Keightley has its roots in the historic county of Yorkshire, England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cecht" or "ceact," meaning oak, and "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing. This suggests that the name may have originated from a settlement or dwelling located in an oak-cleared meadow.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Keightley surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1176, where it appears as "de Kichteley." This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time and the influence of regional dialects.

The Keightley family is mentioned in several historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where the name is associated with landholdings in the Yorkshire area. This provides evidence of the family's presence and significance in the region during the Norman conquest.

In the 13th century, the Keightley family established themselves as prominent landowners in Yorkshire, with their ancestral seat located at Keighley, a market town in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The town's name is believed to have been derived from the family's surname, further reinforcing their connection to the area.

Notable historical figures bearing the Keightley surname include:

1. Robert Keightley (c. 1450-1510), a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire during the reign of Henry VII. 2. Sir Thomas Keightley (1789-1872), an English writer and historian who authored several works on mythology and folklore. 3. Bertram Keightley (1860-1944), a prominent Theosophist and author who co-founded the Theosophical Society in England. 4. Archibald Keightley (1859-1930), a British soldier and writer who served in the Afghan and Boer Wars. 5. Sir Samuel Keightley (1784-1865), an English military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was appointed Governor of Gibraltar.

The Keightley surname has also been associated with various place names in Yorkshire, such as Keighley, Keighley Moor, and Keighley Tarn, further emphasizing the family's longstanding connection to the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keightley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keightley 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. Lincolnshire leads with 168 Keightleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.54x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 168 15.54x
Yorkshire 119 1.78x
Leicestershire 68 9.07x
Middlesex 42 0.62x
Northamptonshire 42 6.61x
Staffordshire 31 1.36x
Warwickshire 30 1.76x
Derbyshire 24 2.27x
Worcestershire 23 2.61x
Nottinghamshire 19 2.09x
Bedfordshire 16 4.57x
Hertfordshire 14 3.00x
Rutland 11 22.16x
Lancashire 10 0.12x
Devon 9 0.64x
Essex 9 0.67x
Huntingdonshire 9 6.70x
Somerset 7 0.64x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.40x
Lanarkshire 6 0.27x
Cheshire 4 0.27x
Norfolk 4 0.38x
Durham 3 0.15x
Glamorgan 3 0.25x
Kent 3 0.13x
Perthshire 3 0.99x
Westmorland 3 2.02x
Royal Navy 2 2.48x
Ayrshire 1 0.20x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.24x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.67x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Boston in Lincolnshire leads with 29 Keightleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.44x.

Place Total Index
Boston 29 88.44x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 29 355.39x
Leicester St Margaret 25 13.68x
Ilkeston 21 70.78x
Appleby 19 1507.94x
Upperswinford 16 214.19x
Aston 15 3.20x
Burton Upon Stather 15 1086.96x
Cleethorpes 15 235.85x
Gainsborough 12 47.10x
Hunslet 12 11.49x
Middleton In Hunslet 12 1276.60x
Nottingham St Mary 12 5.09x
Hampstead London 11 10.45x
Loughborough 11 32.34x
Birmingham 10 1.76x
Sculcoates 10 9.42x
Winterton 10 269.54x
Caldecott 9 1304.35x
Clee With Weelsby 9 38.04x
Dunstable 9 83.64x
Hackleton 9 1022.73x
Hogsthorpe 9 538.92x
Ramsey 9 83.72x
Aspley Guise 7 208.96x
Barton St Mary St Peter 7 350.00x
Chelsea London 7 3.44x
Ecclesfield 7 14.25x
Haxey 7 152.51x
Holbeck 7 15.77x
Ibstock 7 128.44x
Isham 7 786.52x
Legbourne 7 636.36x
Watford 7 19.37x
Wolstanton 7 10.10x
Alford 6 89.55x
Barnsley 6 8.68x
Barony 6 1.08x
Benwick 6 317.46x
Bow London 6 6.97x
Burton Upon Trent 6 11.24x
Dishley Cum Thorpacre 6 1224.49x
Kensington London 6 1.60x
Kirkby Moorside 6 140.85x
Prittlewell 6 32.45x
Rowley Regis 6 9.44x
Sampford Arundel 6 1764.71x
Sileby 6 126.85x
Upper Arley 6 355.03x
Wellingborough 6 18.77x
Carlton 5 48.08x
Garston 5 21.12x
Long Buckby 5 85.03x
Rolleston 5 285.71x
Sheffield 5 2.34x
St Pancras London 5 0.92x
Wakerley 5 961.54x
Brandon Parva 4 1052.63x
Courteenhall 4 975.61x
Hoyland Nether 4 24.35x
Leicester St Mary 4 6.61x
Nether Whitacre 4 294.12x
Northorpe 4 952.38x
St Albans St Stephen 4 98.28x
Chaddesley Corbett 3 90.63x
Crediton 3 22.51x
Crieff 3 26.60x
Crigglestone 3 46.51x
Darfield 3 49.18x
Linthorpe 3 7.50x
Market Rasen 3 49.67x
Odd Rode 3 40.60x
Preston Richard 3 218.98x
Ribbesford 3 40.82x
Rotherham 3 7.94x
Searby Cum Owmby 3 600.00x
Skirbeck Quarter 3 151.52x
Stoke 3 52.63x
Swansea Town 3 3.11x
Yarm 3 87.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 48
Sarah 40
Ann 19
Eliza 19
Elizabeth 17
Jane 13
Annie 12
Emma 11
Martha 9
Charlotte 7
Emily 7
Hannah 7
Ada 6
Ellen 6
Florence 6
Harriet 6
Edith 5
Harriett 5
Maria 5
Alice 4
Caroline 4
Gertrude 4
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Margaret 3
Minnie 3
Eva 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lilian 2
Lucy 2
Maud 2
Rose 2
Rosina 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Blance 1
Blanche 1
Elizth.C.S. 1
Emely 1
Emmeline 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Tereza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 51
William 41
George 22
Joseph 17
Charles 15
Thomas 13
Robert 11
Henry 9
James 8
Alfred 7
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Frederick 6
Samuel 6
Albert 5
Harry 5
David 4
Francis 4
Richard 4
Walter 4
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Frederic 3
Isaac 3
Percy 3
Thos. 3
Adam 2
Amos 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Horace 2
Jeremiah 2
Sidney 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Barzillai 1
Benjamin 1
Bertram 1
Burton 1
C.F. 1
Edwd. 1
Elam 1
Eli... 1
Ellison 1
Franklin 1
Fred 1
Hugh 1
Ingolby 1
Jarvis 1
Jem.E.J.W. 1

FAQ

Keightley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keightley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 700 people were recorded with the Keightley surname. That placed it at #5,189 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keightley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,044 in 2016. That gives Keightley a modern rank of #5,589.

What does the Keightley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Keightley map show?

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