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

Keis, 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 Keis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keis in America

Keis is the 95955th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keis surname appeared 190 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 Keis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keis 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 Keis

The surname KEIS is of German origin, with roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name is derived from the Old High German word "cheisi," which means "a small house or hut."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KEIS can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, dated 1583. The entry mentions a certain Hans Keis, a farmer who lived in the village of Gebsattel.

In the 17th century, the surname KEIS appeared in several historical documents, including the tax records of the Margraviate of Baden (1642) and the census of the Duchy of Württemberg (1689). These records suggest that the name was prominent among peasants and craftsmen in these regions.

During the 18th century, as Germans began to migrate to other parts of Europe and the Americas, the surname KEIS spread to various countries. One notable bearer of this name was Johann Keis (1713-1782), a German painter and engraver who was renowned for his religious artworks.

In the 19th century, the KEIS surname gained prominence in the United States, particularly in the state of Pennsylvania, where many German immigrants settled. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America is that of Friedrich Keis (1801-1873), a farmer who emigrated from Baden to Pennsylvania in the 1830s.

Another notable bearer of the KEIS surname was Karl Keis (1825-1901), a German-American engineer and inventor who played a significant role in the development of early typewriters and other writing machines. He held numerous patents and is considered a pioneer in the field of office technology.

While the surname KEIS is not among the most common in Germany or other parts of the world, it has left its mark on history through the contributions of individuals like the ones mentioned above. The name continues to be proudly carried by families with German roots, serving as a reminder of their ancestral heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keis

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

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

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

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