NameCensus.

UK surname

Keyes

Derived from a nickname for a person who had custody of the keys to a castle or building.

In the 1881 census there were 319 people recorded with the Keyes surname, ranking it #9,326 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 953, ranked #6,026, up from #9,326 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maldon, Port Glasgow Upper East and Wandsworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keyes is 962 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 198.7%.

1881 census count

319

Ranked #9,326

Modern count

953

2016, ranked #6,026

Peak year

2014

962 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Keyes had 319 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,326 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 953 in 2016, ranked #6,026.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 433 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Keyes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Keyes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Keyes 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 153 #12,721
1861 historical 168 #13,895
1881 historical 319 #9,326
1891 historical 333 #10,223
1901 historical 344 #10,569
1911 historical 433 #8,762
1997 modern 858 #6,191
1998 modern 890 #6,212
1999 modern 887 #6,280
2000 modern 874 #6,316
2001 modern 852 #6,324
2002 modern 875 #6,312
2003 modern 861 #6,289
2004 modern 885 #6,178
2005 modern 877 #6,139
2006 modern 856 #6,283
2007 modern 888 #6,146
2008 modern 894 #6,154
2009 modern 916 #6,171
2010 modern 935 #6,195
2011 modern 921 #6,216
2012 modern 915 #6,168
2013 modern 952 #6,070
2014 modern 962 #6,067
2015 modern 958 #6,024
2016 modern 953 #6,026

Geography

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Where Keyes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Manchester and Inworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maldon, Port Glasgow Upper East, Wandsworth, Kirklees and Rochford. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Inworth Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maldon 002 Maldon
2 Port Glasgow Upper East Inverclyde
3 Wandsworth 015 Wandsworth
4 Kirklees 021 Kirklees
5 Rochford 003 Rochford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Keyes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Keyes

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Keyes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Keyes 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

Keyes 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 Keyes 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Keyes

The surname Keyes originated in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "cles" meaning keys, reflecting an occupational name for a keeper of keys or a gatekeeper. The name Keyes is also closely related to the French surname Clé.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mention a William Kaies. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also reference a John le Kays in Oxfordshire. These early spellings, including Kays, Keys, and Keyes, reflect the name's evolution over time.

The Keyes surname is believed to have originated in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Norfolk. Some of the earliest records indicate that the name was particularly prevalent in Norfolk, where it may have been associated with specific locations or estates.

In the 14th century, the Keyes surname appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk, indicating its spread across different regions of England. The Subsidy Rolls also mention a John Keyes in 1327 and a William Keyes in 1381.

Notable individuals bearing the Keyes surname throughout history include:

1. Sir John Keyes (1566-1647), an English merchant and naval administrator who served as the Lieutenant of the Tower of London. 2. Gwendolen Keyes Ayers (1865-1949), an American writer and novelist known for her works on New England life. 3. Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes (1872-1945), a British admiral who played a significant role in the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I. 4. Sir Geoffrey Keyes (1888-1967), a British diplomat and writer who served as the Ambassador to Argentina and Portugal. 5. Evelyn Keyes (1916-2008), an American actress known for her roles in films such as "The Jolson Story" and "Here Comes Mr. Jordan."

While the Keyes surname has origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to migration and immigration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Keyes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keyes 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. Middlesex leads with 76 Keyes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.44x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 76 2.44x
Essex 65 10.58x
Lancashire 49 1.33x
Gloucestershire 32 5.24x
Kent 24 2.26x
Surrey 17 1.12x
Sussex 9 1.72x
Monmouthshire 8 3.56x
Renfrewshire 8 3.32x
Somerset 7 1.40x
Cheshire 4 0.58x
Denbighshire 3 2.55x
Durham 3 0.32x
Hampshire 3 0.47x
Herefordshire 2 1.57x
Suffolk 2 0.53x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Berkshire 1 0.43x
Shropshire 1 0.37x
Staffordshire 1 0.10x
Warwickshire 1 0.13x
Worcestershire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Prittlewell in Essex leads with 17 Keyes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 199.77x.

Place Total Index
Prittlewell 17 199.77x
St Marylebone London 12 7.22x
Islington London 11 3.65x
Ealing 10 35.96x
Grays Thurrock 10 175.13x
Hornsey 10 25.41x
Inworth 10 1470.59x
Windle 9 43.33x
Ince Blundell 8 1428.57x
Paisley High Church 8 41.67x
Southchurch 8 1403.51x
St George Hanover Square 8 14.59x
Blackburn 7 7.13x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 12.18x
Hove 7 30.41x
Margate St John Baptist 7 36.01x
Trevethin 7 32.96x
Great Bolton 6 12.27x
Paglesham 6 1090.91x
Shoreditch London 6 4.45x
Walcot 6 22.49x
Cheltenham 5 10.62x
Clerkenwell London 5 6.81x
Leigh 5 1388.89x
Little Stambridge 5 2941.18x
Westbury On Trym 5 24.19x
Bermondsey 4 4.32x
Bristol St Michael 4 76.48x
Camberwell 4 2.01x
Deptford St Paul 4 4.89x
Everton 4 3.40x
Lexden 4 161.94x
Richmond 4 18.82x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 3.72x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.22x
Durham St Nicholas 3 132.16x
Llanrwst 3 73.71x
Newton By Chester 3 1034.48x
Northfleet 3 32.09x
St Pancras London 3 1.20x
West Derby 3 2.78x
Bowling 2 6.55x
Canterbury Holy Cross 2 196.08x
Clapham 2 5.14x
Clifton 2 6.48x
Horsley 2 74.07x
Ipswich St Mathew 2 18.83x
Leyton Low 2 16.01x
Liverpool 2 0.89x
Madley 2 222.22x
Pemberton 2 13.59x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 3.19x
St George In East London 2 6.83x
Stourmouth 2 588.24x
Aldershot 1 4.68x
Birkdale 1 10.71x
Birmingham 1 0.38x
Brighton 1 0.94x
Canterbury St Mildred 1 39.68x
Chelsea London 1 1.07x
Coaley 1 128.21x
Dartford 1 9.21x
Greenwich 1 2.02x
Hampstead London 1 2.06x
Hendon 1 8.93x
Leonard Stanley 1 125.00x
Liscard 1 8.08x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 7.63x
Newington 1 0.87x
Oldbury 1 5.00x
Oldham 1 0.84x
Plumstead 1 2.83x
Preston 1 10.92x
Ramsgate 1 5.77x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 9.43x
South Shoebury 1 40.49x
St Swithin London Stone 1 1250.00x
St Woollos 1 3.98x
Wickhambreux 1 192.31x
Wigan 1 1.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Emma 11
Annie 10
Sarah 10
Elizabeth 8
Ellen 8
Alice 7
Eliza 6
Jane 6
Charlotte 5
Emily 5
Margaret 4
Catherine 3
Matilda 3
Amelia 2
Arabella 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Harriette 2
Lilian 2
Louisa 2
Louise 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Rosa 2
Anne 1
Bridget 1
Christina 1
Daisy 1
Deborah 1
Dorothy 1
Dra... 1
E.Louisa 1
E.M.M. 1
Elizth. 1
Emely 1
Hannah 1
Hazel 1
Henrietta 1
Irene 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lettice 1
Lousa 1
Mabel 1
Minnie 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
Thomas 14
Charles 9
George 9
John 9
James 8
Edward 7
Henry 6
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Alexander 2
Grimshaw 2
Richard 2
Abraham 1
Anthony 1
Arnold 1
Bernard 1
Danill 1
Denes 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
F.J. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk.J. 1
Geoffry 1
Herbert 1
Jane 1
Jesse 1
Leonard 1
Nathaniel 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Roger 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Terence 1
Theodore 1
Timothy 1
Tommy 1
Walter 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Keyes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Keyes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 319 people were recorded with the Keyes surname. That placed it at #9,326 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Keyes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 953 in 2016. That gives Keyes a modern rank of #6,026.

What does the Keyes surname mean?

Derived from a nickname for a person who had custody of the keys to a castle or building.

What does the Keyes map show?

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