History of your Surname
Get access to Keye family records.Start a free trial

Keye Family History

Keye Name Meaning

English (Cheshire and Lancashire) Irish (Kildare) and North German: variant of Kaye .

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


Similar surnames: Kye, Keyes, Eye, Heye, Key, Kee, Keys, Beye, Kaye, Keyte

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Keye family from?

You can see how Keye families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Keye family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Keye families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 17 Keye families living in Kentucky. This was about 15% of all the recorded Keye's in USA. Kentucky had the highest population of Keye families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Keye surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Keye ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Keye. 40% of Keye men worked as a Laborer and 22% of Keye women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Keye were Machinist and Cook. .

View Census Data for Keye | 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 1940

  • Laborer
    40%
  • Farmer
    23%
  • Salesman
    11%
  • Machinist
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    22%
  • Secretary
    22%
  • Stenographer
    16%
  • Cook
    11%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Keye family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Keye. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Keye census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Keye

Passenger Lists

There are 445 immigration records available for the last name Keye. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Keye immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 512 military records available for the last name Keye. For the veterans among your Keye ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Keye military records

You've only scratched the surface of Keye family history

Discover More

What is the average Keye lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Keye life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1984, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Keye in 1962 was 67, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Keye

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Keye family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Keye last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial