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

Keele, 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 Keele surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keele in America

Keele is the 8941st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keele surname appeared 3,661 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Keele.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keele 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 Keele

The surname "KEELE" is of English origin, with roots dating back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English word "ciele," which means "chalk" or "chalky soil." This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name referring to a location with chalky soil.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Chele" and "Cele." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, recorded landowners and their holdings throughout England.

The surname is closely tied to the village of Keele in Staffordshire, England. The place name "Keele" is believed to have evolved from the Old English "Ciele" or "Chele," reflecting the chalky nature of the local soil. The earliest known record of the place name dates back to the 12th century, when it was written as "Kiel."

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the surname was John de Keele, a landowner and local lord who held lands in Keele and surrounding areas. His name is mentioned in several historical records from that period.

Another prominent individual with the surname was Sir Thomas Keele (1502-1572), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1563.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname appeared in various spellings, including "Keile," "Keele," and "Keel." One notable bearer was Richard Keele (1567-1641), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the chaplain to King James I.

In the 18th century, John Keele (1708-1786) was a prominent English surgeon and author of several medical treatises, including "An Account of the Pelvis" (1751) and "A Treatise on the Laws of Insolvent Debtors" (1768).

Another significant figure was Sir John Keele (1820-1898), a British civil engineer and surveyor who oversaw the construction of several notable projects, including the Stockton and Darlington Railway and the Manchester Ship Canal.

Throughout its history, the surname "KEELE" has maintained a strong connection to its English roots and the chalky soil of its place of origin. While the spelling may have varied over time, the name's essence and geographical ties remain deeply embedded in its etymology.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keele

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

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

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

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