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

Keitt, 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 Keitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Keitt in America

Keitt is the 16327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Keitt surname appeared 1,765 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 Keitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Keitt 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 Keitt

The surname Keitt has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon era of Britain, with roots tracing back to the Old English word "cyte," meaning "cottage" or "hut." It is believed to have initially emerged as a locational surname, referring to individuals who hailed from a particular hamlet or dwelling place.

During the medieval period, variations of the name, such as Kete, Keit, and Keyt, appeared in historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and tenants in England following the Norman Conquest. The earliest documented instance of the name Keitt can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire in 1181, where one Richard Keit is listed.

In the 13th century, the name Keitt began to spread across various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. Notable individuals bearing this surname during this era include William Keyt, a landowner in Norfolk mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, and John Keit, a merchant from York recorded in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1301.

As the surname evolved over time, it took on different spellings, such as Keyte, Keyte, and Keyte, reflecting regional variations and the lack of standardized spelling in those times. One prominent figure was Sir Walter Keyte, a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in the 16th century, who served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the 17th century, the Keitt surname found its way to the American colonies, with records indicating the presence of individuals bearing this name in Virginia and South Carolina. One notable figure from this period was Reverend Isaac Keitt, a Presbyterian minister who settled in South Carolina in the late 1600s.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Keitt family established itself as a prominent plantation-owning family in South Carolina, with several members playing important roles in the state's history. Laurence Massilon Keitt, born in 1824, was a prominent politician and advocate for Southern rights, serving as a U.S. Congressman and later as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.

Another notable figure was James Keitt, born in 1779, a wealthy plantation owner and influential figure in South Carolina's political and social circles. He served as a member of the state's legislature and played a significant role in the development of the region's agricultural and economic interests.

Throughout its history, the Keitt surname has maintained a strong presence, particularly in the Southern United States, and has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, agriculture, and the military.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Keitt

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!