Keighley first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Keighley has been for the last 35 years (from 1989 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Keighley

A feminine name derived from the town name Keighley in Yorkshire, England.

Popularity of Keighley by gender

Based on the last 35 years of data, Keighley is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 19 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Keighley.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 19
2017 0 6
2016 0 7
2015 0 7
2014 0 7
2012 0 5
2010 0 5
2008 0 10
2007 0 6
2006 0 9
2005 0 5
2004 0 8
2003 0 5
2002 0 5
2001 0 12
2000 0 5
1999 0 9
1998 0 5
1997 0 11
1996 0 8
1994 0 5
1993 0 13
1992 0 8
1991 0 8
1989 0 5

The history of the first name Keighley

The name Keighley originates from the Old English language and is derived from the words "ceg" meaning key and "leah" meaning meadow or clearing. It is believed to have originated in the 7th or 8th century AD in the area that is now known as West Yorkshire, England.

The name Keighley is closely associated with the town of Keighley, which is located in the Yorkshire Dales region of England. The town's name is thought to have been derived from the same Old English words as the personal name, and it is likely that the name Keighley was originally a place name before becoming a given name.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Keighley can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership in England that was commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. In the Domesday Book, the town of Keighley is mentioned as "Chichelai," which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the name.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Keighley. One of the most famous was Keighley Peregrine Truscott (1887-1951), a British army officer who served in both World War I and World War II. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor in the British armed forces, for his actions during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

Another notable bearer of the name was Keighley Greengrass (1920-2003), a British actress who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career. She was best known for her roles in the Carry On films of the 1960s and 1970s.

In the realm of literature, Keighley Snowden (1858-1923) was a British writer and journalist who published several novels and short stories in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One of his most famous works was the novel "The Web of Circumstance," which was published in 1901.

The name Keighley has also been associated with the world of sports. Keighley Pemberton (1894-1970) was a British tennis player who competed in the early 20th century. He participated in the Wimbledon Championships on several occasions and was known for his powerful serve.

Finally, in the field of music, Keighley Wilkinson (1932-2018) was a British composer and conductor who was known for his work in film and television scores. He composed the music for numerous popular British television shows, including "The Avengers" and "The Prisoner."

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Keighley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Keighley, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Keighley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 5, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/keighley-meaning-and-history/.

"Keighley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/keighley-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 5 May, 2025

Keighley first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/keighley-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.