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

Keaton, 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 Keaton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keaton in America

Keaton is the 3656th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keaton surname appeared 9,723 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Keaton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keaton 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 Keaton

The surname Keaton has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "catu" or "caten," which referred to a farm or small homestead. The name was likely used to identify people who lived on or near such a property.

In its earliest recorded forms, the name appeared as "de Caton" or "de Catton" in various medieval records and documents. One notable example is the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where the name "Henry de Caton" is mentioned in connection with holdings in Yorkshire.

As the name evolved over time, it took on various spellings, such as Caton, Catton, and eventually Keaton. Many of these variations can be found in parish records and other historical documents throughout the centuries.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John de Caton, a knight who lived in the 14th century and was mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1344 for his service to King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.

In the 16th century, the name Keaton appeared in connection with several place names in various parts of England, such as Keaton in Cumbria and Keaton in Shropshire. These place names likely contributed to the further spread and establishment of the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Keaton throughout history include:

1. Buster Keaton (1895-1966), an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker known for his physical comedy and deadpan expression.
2. Diane Keaton (born 1946), an American actress known for her roles in films such as "The Godfather" and "Annie Hall."
3. Michael Keaton (born 1951), an American actor best known for his performances in films like "Beetlejuice" and "Batman."
4. Caroline Keaton (1828-1898), an American educator and writer who was one of the first female students at Oberlin College.
5. Joseph Keaton (1797-1876), an English artist and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural illustrations.

The surname Keaton has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England. Its evolution and spread across various regions and contexts have contributed to its enduring presence as a surname over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keaton

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

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 Keaton 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 Keaton 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 Keaton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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