Explore the Family Name Keep
The meaning of Keep
1. English (southeastern): from Middle English kepe, possibly in the sense ‘keep of a castle’ though this is not otherwise recorded until the late 16th century (perhaps a translation of Italian tenazza ‘that which keeps’), or in the sense ‘look-out place’ (Old English cēpe, from cēpan ‘to watch, look out for’). 2. Americanized form of German Kiep or of some other similar (like-sounding) German surname.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Keep in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname 'Keep' has seen a slight decrease in popularity over the past decade. In 2000, it was ranked as the 24,807th most common surname in the United States. By 2010, however, its rank had fallen slightly to 26,671st. Concurrently, the total count of individuals with this surname decreased by 3.08% from 942 in 2000 to 913 in 2010. The proportion of Americans with the surname 'Keep' per 100,000 people also decreased by 11.43%, from 0.35 to 0.31.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,807 | #26,671 | -7.51% |
| Count | 942 | 913 | -3.08% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.35 | 0.31 | -11.43% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Keep
As for the ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Keep', according to the Decennial U.S. Census, there has been some shift between 2000 and 2010. It's important to note that no significant Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native presence was recorded in either year. The majority identify as White, though there has been a slight decrease from 97.03% in 2000 to 95.73% in 2010. The percentage identifying as Hispanic saw the largest increase at 58.70%, moving from 1.38% to 2.19%. Those reporting two or more races also increased from 0.64% to 0.88%. The percentage of Black identifying individuals with the surname decreased slightly from 0.64% to 0.55%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.03% | 95.73% | -1.34% |
| Hispanic | 1.38% | 2.19% | 58.7% |
| Two or More Races | 0.64% | 0.88% | 37.5% |
| Black | 0.64% | 0.55% | -14.06% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |