Explore the Family Name De Keyser

The meaning of De Keyser

Flemish (also Dekeyser): from Middle Dutch keyser ‘emperor’ (from the Latin imperial title Caesar), with the definite article de ‘the’. The surname may have originated as a nickname, possibly for someone with an overbearing manner, or as a topographic or habitational name referring to a house or tavern named with this word. It may also have arisen from the title of the leader of a company of marksmen. This is also an Americanized form of the Dutch variant De Keijser. Compare Keyser.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name De Keyser in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname De Keyser has seen minor fluctuations between 2000 and 2010. The rank of this surname decreased slightly from 28,674 in 2000 to 29,198 in 2010, representing a 1.83% drop. However, the number of individuals bearing this surname increased by 3.71% during the same period, growing from 782 to 811. The proportion per 100,000 people also saw a decrease of 6.9%, moving from 0.29 in 2000 to 0.27 in 2010.

20002010Change
Rank#28,674#29,198-1.83%
Count7828113.71%
Proportion per 100k0.290.27-6.9%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name De Keyser

The ethnic identity associated with the De Keyser surname shows some notable changes according to the Decennial U.S. Census. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander saw an increase of 24.02%, while those claiming two or more races decreased by 17.78%. The majority of De Keysers identified as White, however this group experienced a slight decline of 3.98% over the decade. Hispanic representation among De Keysers saw significant growth of 207.81%, albeit starting from a relatively low base. The proportion of Black individuals also increased by 29.65%. Lastly, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a substantial increase of 124.68% during this period.

20002010Change
White92.2%88.53%-3.98%
Black3.71%4.81%29.65%
Asian/Pacific Islander1.79%2.22%24.02%
Hispanic0.64%1.97%207.81%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.77%1.73%124.68%
Two or More Races0.9%0.74%-17.78%