Keys
An English occupational surname referring to a person who was a keeper of the keys or a gatekeeper.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 21,971 Americans carry the last name Keys. That puts it at #1,900 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 6.41 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 15,600 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Keys surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
22K
1 in 15,600
Census rank
#1,900
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
6.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
19K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 18,899 bearers of the surname Keys in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 6.41 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1900th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Keys, the largest self-reported group is White at 48.9%. The next largest groups are Black (43.9%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Keys
The surname Keys is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "caeg," meaning "key." It was likely an occupational name given to locksmiths or keymakers during the medieval period.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Keys dates back to the late 12th century in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire, where one Roger Kaie was listed. Other early spellings include Keye, Kaye, and Kee, reflecting the various dialectal pronunciations.
In the 13th century, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, with a reference to William Kaye. This document, compiled in 1273, recorded landowners and their holdings, suggesting that the Keys family had already established some wealth and status by that time.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Keys, a prominent figure in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. He fought for the House of Lancaster and was knighted for his valor on the battlefield.
The Keys surname also has connections to various place names in England, such as Keysoe in Bedfordshire and Keysworth in Nottinghamshire. These localities likely derived their names from individuals bearing the surname Keys who inhabited or owned land in those areas.
Notable individuals with the surname Keys throughout history include:
1. Thomas Keys (c. 1500-1571), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University.
2. John Keys (1594-1676), a Puritan minister and author who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century.
3. Francis Keys (1679-1761), an English organist and composer who served as the Master of the Children at Westminster Abbey.
4. Sir Benjamin Keys (1756-1835), a British naval officer who distinguished himself in various battles during the Napoleonic Wars.
5. Alicia Keys (born 1981), an American singer-songwriter and record producer who has won numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards.
While the surname Keys has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration, with bearers found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Keys
Among Census respondents with the surname Keys, the largest self-reported group is White at 48.9%. The next largest groups are Black (43.9%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Keys bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Keys surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White48.9%
- Black or African American43.9%
- Two or more races3.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Keys surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,900 | #1,900 | 0.0% |
| Count | 18,899 | 18,899 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 6.41 | 6.41 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Keys bearers went from 18,899 to 18,899 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,900 to #1,900.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Keys
FAQ
Keys surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Keys?
The surname Keys holds position #1,900 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 21,971 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 6.41 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Keys surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Keys, the largest self-reported group is White at 48.9%. The next largest groups are Black (43.9%) and Two or More Races (3.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.