The Keene surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 17,711 people carried this name — #2,032 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 16,700 people counted. That is up 3% from 17,161 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Keene surname

An English surname from Old English, a variant of Keen.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Keene» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a nickname: ‘the keen’ — the first of the origins he gives.

An early record he cites: Hugh le Kene, Oxfordshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Kean, Keen, Keene, Keane and Kene.

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

20 people named Keene live in Switzerland.

They live in 3 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Bern.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Bern 12
Basel-Stadt 4
Valais 4

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

Keene was found among the farmers of 6 counties.

It was most frequent in Buckinghamshire: 55 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 182. 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. His list gives one count for the spellings Keen and Keene.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Buckinghamshire 55
Gloucestershire 30
Somerset 19
Monmouthshire 17
Surrey 15
Suffolk 9

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 print

Keene in American newspapers,
1864–1918.

Newspaper page from The Daily Banner carrying the name Keene
The Daily Banner 1918-05-29
Newspaper page from Hammond Gazette carrying the name Keene
Hammond Gazette 1864-05-18
Newspaper page from The Courier-journal carrying the name Keene
The Courier-journal 1903-08-02

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 258,703 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Keene in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2010s.

17,971 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Keene. The most, 3,077, date from the 1930s. 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 Queensland, at 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 6,527
Queensland 4,858
Victoria 2,773
Western Australia 1,402
South Australia 1,197
Tasmania 1,122
ACT (Canberra) 61
Northern Territory 5

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

Who carried it

People named Keene,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Benjamin Keene
    Benjamin Keene 1697–1757 · politician
  • Edmund Keene
    Edmund Keene 1714–1781 · Anglican priest
  • Whitshed Keene
    Whitshed Keene 1731–1822 · politician
  • Mary Keene d. 1895 · artist
  • Hugh Keene d. 1966
  • Edith Keene d. 1945

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 Keene,
in the records of 7 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 States1,502 records

1,502 records of the Keene name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 616
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 255
  • Other U.S. records 631
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Thomas William Keene

    Born 1952; from Oakland, California. U.S. Army, seaman; died in an accident 1971 in Vinh Long, South Vietnam. Buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Robert Keene

    Born 1910 in New York. Enlisted 1940 at Jamaica; driver from Queens County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1981, buried at Calverton National Cemetery, New York.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1866 aboard the Erin from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 24; servant. From Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,502 records for Keene in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia519 records

519 records of the Keene name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 263
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 94
  • Other Australian records 162
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Elizabeth Keene

    Died 1904 in Esplanade, West¿devonport, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1904.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. 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 James Keene

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Andromeda, arriving 1830; certificate of freedom 1839.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Keene

    Arrived in Victoria in 1858 aboard the Marchioness, aged 48; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 519 records for Keene in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); 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).

Canada43 records

43 records of the Keene name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 17
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 9
  • Other Canadian records 17
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Alfred Keene

    Came to Ontario in 1870 aboard the Nestorian, landing at Quebec, bound for Weston, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Ethel G. Keene

    Buried in 1923 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Susan Keene

    Died 1931 in Conway, Digby, Nova Scotia.

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

Showing 3 of 43 records for Keene 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. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom30 records

30 records of the Keene name in the United Kingdom
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 20
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 9
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Saml John Keene

    Buried in 1822 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 27.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Ellen Keene

    Will proved in 1930; of Colwyn Bay, Denbigh.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record A. Keene

    East Surrey 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 30 records for Keene 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) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands20 records

20 records of the Keene name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 8
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 7
  • Dutch population registers 5
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Emily Keene

    Married in 1908 in Amsterdam; "taallerares". Died 1940 in Arnhem, aged 69.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johann Christoffel Keene

    Married in 1825 in Siddeburen; labourer, born 1778 in Massenberg.

    Open Archives, Groninger Archieven (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Francis Henry Keene

    Married in 1931 in Amsterdam; office clerk.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 20 records for Keene 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).

New Zealand7 records

7 records of the Keene name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Undine Greta Keene

    Died 1949, aged 59; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mabel Doreen Keene

    Died 1985, aged 77; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Frederic John Keene

    Died 1947, aged 71; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Keene in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France3 records

3 records of the Keene 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 Marcelle Jeanne Blanche Keene

    Born 1901 in Bois-Colombes (Paris); died 1988 in Saclas (Essonne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Roger Joseph Jacques Keene

    Born 1910 in Paris; died 1989 in Reims (Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Francine Marie Michele Keene

    Born 1940 in Épernay (Marne); died 1990 in Paris.

    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).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Keene.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Keene.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Keene 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.

See the Keene volume
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