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Keil Family History

Keil Surname Meaning

German: from Middle High German kīl ‘wedge wooden peg’ hence possibly a metonymic occupational name for a maker of such pegs or for a wood chopper. Alternatively, it may be a nickname for an uncouth or misshapen person (compare Keidel) or a topographic name for someone who lived on or near a wedge-shaped plot of land.

Compare Cail, Cale, and Kile. Scottish: possibly a habitational name from a place called Keil or Keill in Scotland.

Jewish (Ashkenazic): from German Keil ‘wedge wooden peg’ either an occupational or an artificial name; compare 1 above.

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


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Where is the Keil family from?

You can see how Keil families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Keil family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Keil families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 46 Keil families living in London. This was about 58% of all the recorded Keil's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Keil families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Keil 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 Keil ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Sign Writer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Keil. 38% of Keil men worked as a Sign Writer and 74% of Keil women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Keil were Taxi cab Driver and Clerk telephonist.

View Census Data for Keil | 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

  • Sign Writer
    38%
  • Incapacitated
    38%
  • Taxi cab Driver
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    10%
  • Incapacitated
    8%
  • Clerk telephonist
    5%

What Keil family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 31,000 census records available for the last name Keil. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Keil census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Keil

Passenger Lists

There are 8,000 immigration records available for the last name Keil. 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 Keil immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Keil. For the veterans among your Keil ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Keil military records

You've only scratched the surface of Keil family history

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What is the average Keil lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Keil life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 1960. The average life expectancy for Keil in 1947 was 47, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Keil

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Keil 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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