The Keel surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,682 people carried this name — #4,090 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 34,000 people counted. That is up 6% from 8,218 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Keel surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Keal’.

An early record he cites: Robert de Kele, Lincolnshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Keal, Keel, Keele and Keale.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 440 · public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

865 people named Keel live in Switzerland.

They live in 20 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in St. Gallen.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

St. Gallen 374
Zurich 157
Thurgau 58
Bern 46
Aargau 45
Appenzell Ausserrhoden 39
Lucerne 35
Zug 23

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Keel was found among the farmers of Somerset: 14 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Somerset 14

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

44 families named Keel, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 233 people lived in those households, 5.3 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 9 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 17
North Carolina 12
South Carolina 9
Maryland 4
Virginia 2

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 248 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Keel in American newspapers,
1904–1905.

Newspaper page from Newport Weekly Independent carrying the name Keel
Newport Weekly Independent 1904-03-18
Newspaper page from Newport Daily Independent carrying the name Keel
Newport Daily Independent 1905-02-10
Newspaper page from Newport Daily Independent carrying the name Keel
Newport Daily Independent 1904-03-15

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 4,933 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Keel in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1980s.

2,643 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Keel. The most, 522, date from the 1920s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 2.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 870
Victoria 600
Western Australia 522
Queensland 313
South Australia 228
Tasmania 87
ACT (Canberra) 15

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Keel.

Who carried it

People named Keel,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Howard Keel
    Howard Keel 1919–2004 · actor
  • Mary Winifred Keel d. 1958
  • Carter Keel 1800–1876
  • Johann Joseph Keel 1837–1902 · politician
  • Frederick Keel 1871–1954 · composer
  • Frederick Keel 1871–1954 · composer

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Keel,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States499 records

499 records of the Keel name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 288
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 77
  • Other U.S. records 134
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Ronald E. Keel

    Born 1917 in North Carolina. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Bragg; farm hand from Pamlico County. Veteran of World War II; died 1961, buried at New Bern National Cemetery, North Carolina.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jean Keel

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the La Gascogne from Havre, aged 23; journeyman. From New York, Switzerland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Charles J. Keel

    Born 1932; from Allegany County, Maryland. U.S. Army, light weapons infantryman; died of wounds 1952 in North Korea.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 499 records for Keel in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Netherlands95 records

95 records of the Keel name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 50
  • Dutch population registers 28
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 17
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Catharina Engelberta Keel

    Married in 1830 in Loenen. Died 1865 in Haarlem, aged 61.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Philippus Keel

    Died 1829 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 60.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Anna Louisa Keel

    Died 1858 in Middelburg, aged 70.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 95 records for Keel in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Australia66 records

66 records of the Keel name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 43
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 12
  • Other Australian records 11
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Henry Keel

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Marion, sailing from London in 1845. Native of Folkestone, Kent.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Louisa Keel

    Arrived in Victoria in 1887 aboard the Port Augusta, aged 9; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Vivian Elaine Keel

    Telephonist of Glen Iris, Victoria; died 2001.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 66 records for Keel in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada14 records

14 records of the Keel name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 9
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 2
  • Other Canadian records 3
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record David Hilden Keel

    Died 1959 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Clayton Clarence Keel

    Died in service in 1945.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Edmund Chesley Keel

    Died 1972 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 14 records for Keel in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

United Kingdom6 records

6 records of the Keel name in the United Kingdom
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 4
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Christr Keel

    Buried in 1830 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 51.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record A. Keel

    The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. H. Keel

    Hampshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Keel in the United Kingdom.

Counts: MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Switzerland6 records

6 records of the Keel name in Switzerland Zürich marriage records, 16th–18th centuries
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Hans Georg Keel

    Married in 1717 in Grossmünster, canton of Zürich; of Marbach Sg.

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Barbara Keel

    Married in 1754 in Winterthur, canton of Zürich; of Rebstein Sg.

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Georg Keel

    Married in 1615 in Weiach, canton of Zürich; of Rebstein Sg.

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Keel in Switzerland.

Counts: Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France2 records

2 records of the Keel name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Andre Keel

    Born 1926 in Morocco; died 1998 in Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Fernande Muguette Keel

    Born 1913 in Tarare; died 1994 in L'Arbresle (Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Germany1 record

1 record of the Keel name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Johann Keel

    From Lämmlings, Schwaben. Reported wounded in the Bavarian casualty list of 7 July 1917.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Keel.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Keel is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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