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Keyes Family History

Keyes Surname Meaning

English Irish and Scottish: variant of Kay of various origins mostly with excrescent -s.

English (of Norman origin): in some cases possibly a variant of Guise a habitational name from Guise in Aisne Picardy.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Keyes family from?

You can see how Keyes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Keyes family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Keyes families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 74 Keyes families living in Essex. This was about 24% of all the recorded Keyes's in United Kingdom. Essex had the highest population of Keyes families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Keyes 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 Keyes 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 Keyes. 15% of Keyes men worked as a General Labourer and 90% of Keyes women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Keyes were House Painter and Shop Assistant.

View Census Data for Keyes | 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
    15%
  • Research Fellow
    8%
  • Builders Labourer
    8%
  • House Painter
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    90%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    2%
  • Shop Assistant
    2%

What Keyes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 79,000 census records available for the last name Keyes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Keyes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Keyes

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

There are 22,000 military records available for the last name Keyes. For the veterans among your Keyes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Keyes military records

You've only scratched the surface of Keyes family history

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What is the average Keyes lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Keyes life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1983. The average life expectancy for Keyes in 1945 was 34, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Keyes

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Keyes 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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