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

Keeys, 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 Keeys surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keeys in America

Keeys is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keeys surname appeared 106 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 Keeys.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keeys 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 Keeys

The surname "KEEYS" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from an old English word or place name. One theory suggests that it may have evolved from the Old English word "caeg," which means "key," potentially indicating an ancestral connection to a locksmith or a keeper of keys.

Another possibility is that the name is rooted in a place name, such as a town or village where the family originated. In some instances, surnames were derived from the names of residences or locations associated with the family's ancestral roots. However, there is no definitive record of a specific place called "Keeys" in historical records.

The earliest known reference to the surname "KEEYS" dates back to the late 13th century, with a record of a John de Keyes in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297. This suggests that the name may have originated in or around the Yorkshire region of northern England.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, where a Richard Keyes was listed as a landowner in 1349. This indicates that the family had established roots and held property in the Cambridgeshire area by that time.

One notable figure bearing the surname "KEEYS" was Sir John Keyes, a military commander who served under King Henry VIII during the 16th century. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and was knighted by the King in 1544 for his loyal service.

Another prominent individual was Robert Keyes, an English clergyman and academic who lived from 1693 to 1757. He was appointed as the Bishop of Peterborough in 1748 and made notable contributions to the Church of England during his tenure.

In the 18th century, a man named Thomas Keyes (1725-1804) gained recognition as a successful merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He was involved in various business ventures and was known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting local charities.

The 19th century saw the birth of Mary Keyes (1819-1899), a renowned author and social reformer from Philadelphia, United States. She wrote extensively on women's rights and advocated for educational opportunities for women during her lifetime.

Lastly, a notable figure from the 20th century was Admiral Sir Roger Keyes (1872-1945), a British naval officer who played a crucial role in the First World War. He was involved in the planning and execution of the Gallipoli Campaign and later served as the Commander-in-Chief of the British Naval Forces during the final years of the war.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keeys

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

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

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

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