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

Keesee, 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 Keesee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keesee in America

Keesee is the 9636th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keesee surname appeared 3,368 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 Keesee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keesee 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 Keesee

The surname Keesee has its origins in medieval England, emerging around the 12th or 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cese," which referred to a type of cheese or curd. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname, identifying individuals involved in the production or trade of cheese.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Keesee can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey conducted in England during the reign of King Edward I. The document mentions a "William Kese" residing in Cambridgeshire. This spelling variation, "Kese," provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Keyse" and "Kease," as evidenced by records from Berkshire and Oxfordshire. These regional variations likely reflect differences in local dialects and pronunciation.

In the 15th century, the surname Keesee began to take on its more modern spelling. A notable individual bearing this name was John Keesee, a merchant and landowner from Somerset who lived from 1412 to 1487. His estate records and business transactions provide valuable historical context for the name during this period.

The 16th century saw the emergence of another prominent figure named Keesee. Thomas Keesee, born in 1521 in Gloucestershire, was a renowned scholar and author. His published works on theology and philosophy contributed significantly to the intellectual discourse of the time.

As the centuries progressed, the Keesee name continued to appear in various regions of England. In the 18th century, a notable figure was William Keesee, a successful architect from Yorkshire (1724-1801). His contributions to the design and construction of several notable buildings in northern England left a lasting legacy.

Another significant individual was Elizabeth Keesee, a pioneering educator from Warwickshire, who lived from 1763 to 1842. She established one of the first schools for girls in her region, paving the way for greater educational opportunities for women.

While the name Keesee has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its origins can be traced back to the English medieval period, with a strong connection to the production and trade of cheese or dairy products.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keesee

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

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

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

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