History of your Surname
Get access to Keefe family records.Start a free trial

Keefe Family History

Keefe Name Meaning

Irish: shortened Anglicized form of O'Keefe .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Keef, Deere, Keever, Keeley, Knee, Keel, Keele, Keeffe, Keena, Keels

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Keefe family from?

You can see how Keefe families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Keefe family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Keefe families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 460 Keefe families living in London. This was about 32% of all the recorded Keefe's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Keefe families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Keefe surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Keefe ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Keefe. 18% of Keefe men worked as a General Labourer and 77% of Keefe women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Keefe were Carpenter and Incapacitated. .

View Census Data for Keefe | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    18%
  • Builders Labourer
    14%
  • Motor Driver
    7%
  • Carpenter
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Office Cleaner
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Keefe family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 123,000 census records available for the last name Keefe. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Keefe census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Keefe

Passenger Lists

There are 19,000 immigration records available for the last name Keefe. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Keefe immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 18,000 military records available for the last name Keefe. For the veterans among your Keefe ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Keefe military records

You've only scratched the surface of Keefe family history

Discover More

What is the average Keefe lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Keefe life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Keefe in 1944 was 39, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Keefe

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Keefe family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Keefe last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial