NameCensus.

UK surname

Keita

A surname of West African origin, possibly meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous" in various languages.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bexley, Wolverhampton and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keita is 206 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

206

2016, ranked #19,183

Peak year

2016

206 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016, ranked #19,183.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Keita surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keita surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keita 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
1997 modern 24 #35,376
1998 modern 22 #35,687
1999 modern 32 #34,717
2000 modern 34 #34,517
2001 modern 36 #34,171
2002 modern 57 #32,661
2003 modern 66 #31,879
2004 modern 69 #31,784
2005 modern 85 #30,219
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 139 #24,161
2010 modern 156 #22,886
2011 modern 140 #24,395
2012 modern 152 #23,069
2013 modern 171 #21,654
2014 modern 185 #20,739
2015 modern 201 #19,494
2016 modern 206 #19,183

Geography

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Where Keitas 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 Bexley, Wolverhampton, Brent, Greenwich and Lewisham. 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 Bexley 001 Bexley
2 Wolverhampton 017 Wolverhampton
3 Brent 024 Brent
4 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
5 Lewisham 012 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keita

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keita

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Keita surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Keita 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Keita 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

Keita 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

Keita falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Keita 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
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Keita

The surname Keita has its origins in the West African nation of Mali. It is believed to have emerged during the 13th century, when the Mali Empire was at its peak. The name is derived from the Mandinka word "keita," which means "warrior" or "conqueror."

The Keita surname was initially associated with the ruling dynasty of the Mali Empire, which was founded by Sundiata Keita in the early 13th century. Sundiata Keita (c. 1217-1260) was a legendary figure who united the Mandinka people and established the Mali Empire as a major power in West Africa.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Keita surname can be found in the Epic of Sundiata, a celebrated oral tradition that recounts the life and exploits of Sundiata Keita. This epic, which has been passed down through generations of griots (West African storytellers), is considered a significant cultural and literary work in West Africa.

As the Mali Empire expanded and flourished, the Keita surname became more widespread, particularly among the nobility and ruling classes. During this period, the name was often associated with military prowess, leadership, and political power.

Another notable figure with the Keita surname was Mansa Musa I (c. 1280-1337), the ninth Mansa (emperor) of the Mali Empire. Mansa Musa I is renowned for his wealth, his patronage of learning and architecture, and his famous pilgrimage to Mecca, during which he reportedly distributed vast amounts of gold along the way, leaving a lasting impact on the economies of the regions he passed through.

In the 14th century, the Keita surname appeared in the Tarikh al-Fattash, a chronicle written by the Malian scholar and traveler Mahmud Kati. This work provides valuable insights into the history and culture of the Mali Empire and mentions several prominent Keita individuals.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, as the Mali Empire declined and smaller kingdoms emerged in the region, the Keita surname remained influential. Famously, the Keita family played a significant role in the Songhay Empire, which rose to prominence in the latter part of this period.

Askia Muhammad I (c. 1443-1538), the founder and first ruler of the Songhay Empire, was a member of the Keita clan. He was a renowned military leader who consolidated power across much of West Africa and is remembered for his efforts to promote Islam and education in the region.

Throughout the centuries, the Keita surname has continued to be associated with notable figures in various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. However, it is important to note that the surname's historical significance is primarily rooted in its connection to the ancient empires and dynasties of West Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Keita surname: questions and answers

How common is the Keita surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016. That gives Keita a modern rank of #19,183.

What does the Keita surname mean?

A surname of West African origin, possibly meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous" in various languages.

What does the Keita map show?

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