Find out how popular the last name Keal is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Keal.

Keal, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Keal surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keal in America

Keal is the 45804th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keal surname appeared 466 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Keal.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keal to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Keal

The surname KEAL originated in the British Isles, specifically in England and Scotland, during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "ciele," which means "cold" or "chilly," potentially referring to someone who lived in a cold or exposed area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Keal residing in Lincolnshire, England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records across Yorkshire and Northumberland, often spelled as "Kele" or "Keyle." These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and accents of the time.

The KEAL surname is also connected to several place names in England, such as Keal in Lincolnshire and Keal Cotes in East Riding of Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the adoption of the surname by families residing in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname KEAL throughout history include:

1. John Keal (c. 1570-1631), an English composer and organist known for his contributions to the madrigal genre during the Renaissance period.

2. Robert Keal (c. 1640-1719), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who made significant advancements in the study of celestial mechanics.

3. Elizabeth Keal (1781-1860), a British writer and advocate for women's education, known for her influential essays on educational reform.

4. William Keal (1825-1892), a prominent Irish architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Dublin, including the National Museum of Ireland.

5. Margaret Keal (1904-1982), an American botanist and conservationist who played a crucial role in establishing several national parks and nature reserves across the United States.

The KEAL surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in the British Isles. While the name may have evolved in spelling over time, its connection to place names and notable individuals has left an indelible mark on various fields, from music and science to literature and architecture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keal

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Keal.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Keal was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Keal has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Keal, 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!