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

Keever, 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 Keever surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keever in America

Keever is the 9596th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keever surname appeared 3,386 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 Keever.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keever 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 Keever

The surname "KEEVER" is believed to have originated in England, with its roots traced back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cæfer," meaning "beetle" or "chafer." This suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon someone who bore a resemblance to these insects or perhaps had a profession related to them.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, dating back to 1589. Here, a certain John Keever is mentioned as a resident of the area. Additionally, there are references to the surname in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, which were a series of oaths of allegiance taken by English subjects during the early years of the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the surname "KEEVER" also appeared in various parts of Lincolnshire, particularly in the villages of Alford and Spilsby. One notable individual was William Keever, born in Alford in 1632, who served as a parish clerk and is mentioned in the church records of the time.

As the centuries progressed, the name spread to other regions of England, with variations in spelling emerging, such as "Keever," "Kever," and "Keeper." In the 19th century, a prominent figure bearing this surname was James Keever, a renowned architect from Yorkshire who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Exchange in Leeds (1865-1867).

Another historical figure with the surname "KEEVER" was John Keever, born in 1804 in Nottinghamshire. He was a pioneering engineer who played a significant role in the development of early steam engines and is credited with several important innovations in the field.

Across the Atlantic, the name "KEEVER" also found its way to the American colonies, with records indicating the presence of individuals bearing this surname in Virginia and Maryland as early as the 17th century. One notable example is Thomas Keever, born in 1675 in Virginia, who served as a member of the House of Burgesses, the legislative body of the Virginia Colony.

Throughout its history, the surname "KEEVER" has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, artisans, clergymen, and even military personnel. While the exact origins and meaning of the name may be subject to debate, its enduring presence across generations and continents serves as a testament to its rich and diverse heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keever

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

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

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

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