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

Keeper, 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 Keeper surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keeper in America

Keeper is the 79598th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keeper surname appeared 239 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 Keeper.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keeper 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 Keeper

The surname KEEPER is of English origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "cepan," meaning "to keep" or "to guard." The name likely emerged as an occupational surname, referring to individuals who were responsible for guarding or maintaining a particular property, such as a castle, manor, or estate.

In the 11th century, the Norman Conquest of England brought about significant changes in the country's social structure and the introduction of new surnames. The name KEEPER may have been adopted during this period to identify individuals who held the position of a keeper or guardian of a specific location or property.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KEEPER can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "le Keper" and "Kepper," indicating its widespread use at the time.

During the medieval period, the surname KEEPER was often associated with individuals who held positions of authority and responsibility within the nobility or the Church. For example, John Keeper (c. 1350-1420) was a prominent English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Lincoln from 1408 until his death.

Another notable figure with the surname KEEPER was Sir Thomas Keeper (c. 1455-1516), an English lawyer and judge who held the position of Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 1513 to 1516. He played a significant role in the legal and political affairs of his time.

In the 16th century, the name KEEPER was also associated with various place names and locations. For instance, the village of Keepers Green in Buckinghamshire, England, likely derived its name from individuals with the surname KEEPER who resided or held land in the area.

Moving forward in history, Sir John Keeper (1627-1694) was an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal during the reign of Charles II. He was instrumental in shaping the legal and political landscape of 17th-century England.

Another prominent figure was Mary Keeper (1728-1807), an English writer and playwright who gained recognition for her works in the late 18th century. Her plays and novels explored themes of social commentary and gender dynamics, reflecting the changing attitudes of her time.

Throughout its history, the surname KEEPER has been associated with various occupations, professions, and positions of responsibility, reflecting the versatility of its origins and its enduring presence across different eras and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keeper

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

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

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

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