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Keel Family History

Keel Surname Meaning

English (Wiltshire and Somerset): habitational name from East and West Keal (Lincolnshire) or Keele (Staffordshire). The Lincolnshire placename is derived from Old Norse kjǫlr ‘keel ridge’ while the Staffordshire placename probably derives from Old English cū ‘cow’ + hyll ‘hill’. English: in Wiltshire perhaps a variant of Keevil a habitational name from Keevil (Wiltshire) derived from an Old English personal name Cȳfa or Old English cȳf ‘vessel tub’ (used topographically for a depression or hollow) + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.

Irish: shortened form of McKeel. Swiss German: probably a variant of Kehl, Americanized form of German Kühl (see Kuhl) or Kiehl Kiel.

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


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Where is the Keel family from?

You can see how Keel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Keel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Keel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 126 Keel families living in Wiltshire. This was about 21% of all the recorded Keel's in United Kingdom. Wiltshire had the highest population of Keel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Keel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Keel 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 Keel. 11% of Keel men worked as a General Labourer and 78% of Keel women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Keel were Postman and Household Duties (unpaid).

View Census Data for Keel | 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
    11%
  • Dairy Farmer
    11%
  • Gardener
    10%
  • Postman
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    78%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    2%

What Keel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 38,000 census records available for the last name Keel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Keel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Keel

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Keel. 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 Keel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Keel. For the veterans among your Keel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Keel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Keel family history

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What is the average Keel lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Keel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Keel in 1946 was 47, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Keel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Keel ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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