NameCensus.

UK surname

Keilty

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh referring to descendants of someone named Ceallach.

In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Keilty surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 166, ranked #22,140, up from #31,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Wirral and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keilty is 175 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1283.3%.

1881 census count

12

Ranked #31,914

Modern count

166

2016, ranked #22,140

Peak year

2014

175 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keilty had 12 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016, ranked #22,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 87 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Keilty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keilty surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keilty 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 24 #29,038
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 12 #31,914
1891 historical 42 #31,018
1901 historical 40 #29,678
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 163 #20,038
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 166 #20,458
2000 modern 164 #20,584
2001 modern 160 #20,616
2002 modern 157 #21,261
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 153 #21,528
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 144 #22,520
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 159 #22,072
2010 modern 162 #22,292
2011 modern 174 #21,096
2012 modern 161 #22,157
2013 modern 166 #22,075
2014 modern 175 #21,477
2015 modern 166 #22,159
2016 modern 166 #22,140

Geography

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Where Keiltys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Wirral, Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 020 Rotherham
2 Wirral 001 Wirral
3 Rotherham 018 Rotherham
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 018 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 North Tyneside 017 North Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keilty

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keilty

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Keilty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Keilty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Keilty 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

Keilty 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

Keilty falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Keilty 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Keilty

The surname Keilty is of Irish origin and is believed to have originated in the early medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic word "Caoltach," which means "slender" or "slight." The name was likely initially used as a descriptive nickname for a person of slender build.

The Keilty surname is predominantly found in counties Westmeath and Longford in the Irish Midlands. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 16th century in these regions. Some variations in spelling include Kielty, Keelty, and Kylty.

One of the earliest documented references to the Keilty name can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I, where a Thomas Keilty is mentioned as being granted lands in County Westmeath in 1587.

In the 17th century, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, a notable figure named Edmund Keilty served as a captain in the Irish Confederate forces. He fought against the English Parliamentarian forces and was later executed for his role in the rebellion.

In the 19th century, a prominent educator named Bernard Keilty was born in County Longford in 1810. He founded several schools in Ireland and was a strong advocate for Catholic education.

Another notable Keilty was Patrick Keilty, born in County Westmeath in 1857. He emigrated to the United States and became a successful businessman and philanthropist in Philadelphia.

In the early 20th century, a writer and journalist named Kathleen Keilty gained recognition for her works on Irish culture and history. She was born in County Longford in 1905 and published several books and articles throughout her career.

While not as prevalent as some other Irish surnames, the Keilty name has a rich history rooted in the Irish Midlands, with various descendants making significant contributions in various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keilty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keilty 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 9 Keiltys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.77x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 9 7.77x
Cheshire 1 3.88x
Lancashire 1 0.72x
Worcestershire 1 6.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 6 Keiltys recorded in 1881 and an index of 215.05x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 6 215.05x
Sheffield 2 54.20x
Claines 1 238.10x
Sculcoates 1 54.35x
Stockport 1 75.19x
Walton On Hill 1 133.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Bridget 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
Daniel 1
John 1
Thomas 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Keilty households.

FAQ

Keilty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keilty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Keilty surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keilty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016. That gives Keilty a modern rank of #22,140.

What does the Keilty surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh referring to descendants of someone named Ceallach.

What does the Keilty map show?

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