Keen Surname

11,798th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 47,608 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
New Zealand

Keen Surname Definition:

(English) Bold; Sharp [Middle English keene, kene, Old English céne] Hugh le Kene.—Hundred Rolls Céne under cumblum.

(Bold under the banners).— Iudith XII.

With lordes, and with knightes kene.—L. Minot, Edw. the King in Braband.

Read More About This Surname

Keen Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States23,1411:15,6631,989
England11,3041:4,929683
Australia4,9521:5,451789
Canada1,7871:20,6192,845
New Zealand1,2431:3,643573
India5581:1,374,66953,103
South Africa4921:110,11713,252
Germany4861:165,64919,614
Kenya4781:96,6118,534
Wales3591:8,620954
Scotland3501:15,2971,920
Malaysia3401:86,7486,052
Netherlands3021:55,9189,596
Egypt2441:376,78623,402
Saudi Arabia2391:129,10417,726
Morocco1361:253,50142,794
Jamaica1251:22,9601,909
Singapore1201:45,8981,743
Argentina1141:374,94229,068
Pakistan1021:1,751,41117,795
Spain611:766,42732,250
Thailand561:1,261,399181,528
France491:1,355,566135,191
Nigeria431:4,119,599115,187
China411:33,349,3061,770
Papua New Guinea401:203,84328,184
Ireland341:138,4986,546
Brunei341:12,3161,672
Russia341:4,238,913201,756
Northern Ireland301:61,5014,735
Brazil251:8,562,973188,780
Zimbabwe221:701,73850,656
Sweden201:492,33835,486
Jersey171:5,8351,193
Switzerland131:631,76343,230
United Arab Emirates131:704,79025,221
Philippines111:9,203,475207,772
Indonesia101:13,224,919434,432
Bahrain91:149,8455,469
Ethiopia91:10,838,47414,518
Belarus71:1,357,29483,128
Czechia71:1,519,06797,842
Israel61:1,426,27275,466
Norway61:857,04855,549
Qatar61:393,00055,922
Tanzania61:8,823,60272,091
Uganda61:6,506,546123,710
Uruguay61:571,96026,877
Belgium51:2,299,329106,824
Greece51:2,215,95891,893
Poland51:7,601,750167,855
Turkey51:15,564,284149,633
DR Congo41:18,469,892182,906
Guernsey41:16,1101,225
Haiti41:2,670,97716,453
Hong Kong41:1,833,8716,220
Italy41:15,289,172132,955
Japan41:31,961,07353,820
Mexico41:31,031,55163,627
Oman41:921,9937,313
United States Virgin Islands41:27,5943,273
Algeria31:12,877,18484,902
Costa Rica31:1,593,3568,177
Finland31:1,832,23457,803
Taiwan31:7,814,91541,694
Austria21:4,257,71899,224
Colombia21:23,887,03632,612
Iceland21:190,0456,825
Isle of Man21:42,9113,686
Kazakhstan21:8,841,248174,813
Peru21:15,892,06251,966
Romania21:10,038,93580,612
South Korea21:25,620,1284,175
Vietnam21:46,323,0275,235
Afghanistan11:32,153,18360,828
Azerbaijan11:9,649,12247,873
Bahamas11:391,7512,737
Bangladesh11:159,356,77326,077
Bhutan11:616,0391,715
Botswana11:2,186,92930,250
Bulgaria11:6,978,90586,260
Cameroon11:20,769,068227,406
Cyprus11:884,87613,055
Denmark11:5,644,71593,155
Dominican Republic11:10,432,93236,508
Ecuador11:15,905,84650,210
Estonia11:1,321,80440,178
Ghana11:27,020,69223,742
Hungary11:9,816,27773,288
Jordan11:8,842,43726,010
Kuwait11:3,800,69427,187
Kyrgyzstan11:5,972,65499,197
Latvia11:2,050,04660,295
Lithuania11:3,034,58847,401
Malawi11:17,119,10934,144
Moldova11:3,561,36878,271
Panama11:3,912,25817,195
Paraguay11:7,236,74616,511
Sri Lanka11:20,808,56018,521
Syria11:19,301,02222,457
Trinidad and Tobago11:1,363,97522,013
Vanuatu11:263,2762,086
Venezuela11:30,204,07785,459
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland161:276,86711,455
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England5,8741:4,150612
Scotland961:38,9922,998
Wales531:29,5931,646
Jersey11:51,8823,898
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States5,1141:9,8201,263

Keen (16,216) may also be a first name.

Keen Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

(English) Bold; Sharp [Middle English keene, kene, Old English céne] Hugh le Kene.—Hundred Rolls Céne under cumblum.

(Bold under the banners).— Iudith XII.

With lordes, and with knightes kene.—L. Minot, Edw. the King in Braband.

Cenobia, of Palymerie queene . . .

So worthy was in armes,and so keene.— Chaucer, Cant. Tales, B 3437, 39.

(Celtic) 1 Tall [Irish cian] 2 Handsome, Comely [Irish caein, caoin] 3 for Mackian = Son of John: v. John.

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

“Wise, Brave, Proud” in Old English.

South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

(English, Irish) The quick, sharp person; grandson of Cathan, a pet form of some name commencing with Cath, as Cathair or Cathal.

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

Perhaps sometimes from sharpness of disposition; but sometimes probably the Irish O'Kean, sans O'. Both Kene and Le Kene occur in H.R.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

Bold, eager, daring.

The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames (1862) by Clifford Stanley Sims (1839-1896)

Bold, eager, daring; bright, fair; or may be the same as Kean.

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857) by William Arthur

1. Same as Kean, O'Kean, from Gael. ceann, head, commander; Irish ceann, a head, chief, leader, captain. 2. From Kean or Keyne (St. ), a parish co. Cornwall.

Ludus Patronymicus (1868) by Richard Stephen Charnock

From the Danish, Kiehn; from the Flemish, Kien; a personal name.

British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning (1903) by Henry Barber

Keen Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Keen Come From? nationality or country of origin

The last name Keen (Hindi: केएन, Russian: Кеен) is found in The United States more than any other country or territory. It may also be rendered as a variant:. For other possible spellings of this last name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Keen? popularity and diffusion

Keen is the 11,798th most frequently used family name internationally. It is borne by approximately 1 in 153,074 people. This surname occurs mostly in The Americas, where 53 percent of Keen are found; 52 percent are found in North America and 52 percent are found in Anglo-North America. Keen is also the 44,013th most commonly used first name world-wide, held by 16,216 people.

The surname is most commonly held in The United States, where it is carried by 23,141 people, or 1 in 15,663. In The United States Keen is mostly found in: Florida, where 10 percent reside, Texas, where 8 percent reside and Virginia, where 7 percent reside. Aside from The United States this surname is found in 102 countries. It also occurs in England, where 24 percent reside and Australia, where 10 percent reside.

Keen Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The frequency of Keen has changed through the years. In The United States the share of the population with the surname increased 453 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it increased 192 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Wales it increased 677 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Scotland it increased 365 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Ireland it increased 213 percent between 1901 and 2014.

Keen Last Name Statistics demography

The religious adherence of those bearing the Keen surname is principally Anglican (69%) in Ireland and Christian (100%) in Kenya.

In The United States those holding the Keen surname are 15.33% more likely to be registered Republicans than the national average, with 62.1% registered to vote for the party.

The amount Keen earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 18.31% less than the national average, earning 282,723 kr per year; in South Africa they earn 49.82% more than the national average, earning R 356,040 per year; in United States they earn 4.69% less than the national average, earning $41,127 USD per year and in Canada they earn 5.93% more than the national average, earning $52,630 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Keyen891,985/
Kheen8936/
Keien8920/
Keean8919/
Kejen898/
Keend896/
Keenn892/
Keuen892/
Keenh891/
Ken8656,942/
Keggen8073/
Keghen8071/
Keihen8062/
Hkeemn8011/
Keeyan807/
Keeane805/
Kehene804/
Koeien803/
Keejin803/
Keenne803/
Kheyen802/
Keeyon802/
Keejan802/
Kojeen802/
Kayeen802/
Keeyen802/
Keyien802/
Koween802/
Kehean801/
Keeann801/
Keejen801/
Keußen801/
Keyene801/
Keiene801/
Keeien801/
Koheen801/
Kheean801/
Keeian801/
Kien7523,015/
Koen7517,722/
Kean7515,879/
Kaen759,208/
Kuen753,431/
Kein751,749/
Kehn751,562/
Kenn751,170/
Keyn75774/
Keun75451/
Kyen75102/
Ceen7579/
Qeen7533/
Kejn7513/
Kåen759/
Kken752/
Gken752/
Hken752/
Kqen751/
Ȗken751/
Keuchen73140/
Keussen7371/
Kehyeng7332/
Khayeen7311/
Keeyang738/
Kheeane735/
Keauyen734/
Keennth733/
Keisien733/
Keehang733/
Kehjenq731/
Kheyene731/
Keihene731/
Kehegne731/
Khojeen731/
Kajeene731/
Kayceen731/
Khaheen731/
Kheeian731/
Keeyeng731/
Keehoun731/
Kenne6766,482/
Queen6758,738/
Keane6747,710/
Kuehn6713,932/
Koehn6713,629/
Keyan674,898/
Kiehn672,983/
Kawen672,953/
Khyen672,841/
Keune672,775/
Kn671,863/
Khaen671,267/
Kayen67823/
Khean67757/
Keunt67661/
Koyen67634/
Khoen67581/
Khuen67403/
Keine67358/
Cheen67347/
Kehan67339/
Kaien67324/
Kaehn67285/
Khien67282/
Keihn67253/
Kuenn67248/
Koenn67238/
Kowen67149/
Keuhn67125/
Khein67119/
Kajen67107/
Kheyn6781/
Kojen6780/
Keyon6770/
Keyne6765/
Keuschen6761/
Ceyen6755/
Kiyen6752/
Keyun6747/
Kuien6744/
Køien6741/
Keahn6736/
Kuyen6736/
Kejan6734/
Kujen6730/
Kejon6729/
Keian6726/
Cehen6720/
Kejin6719/
Kheun6714/
Koien6713/
Kiean6712/
Keyin6711/
Kauen6710/
Kentø6710/
Køyen6710/
Kouen679/
Keiyn679/
Gkeng679/
Keion678/
Keann677/
Kejne677/
Keuan675/
Ckean674/
Kyehn673/
Kijen673/
Kenkh673/
Kcehn672/
Kennh672/
Kengk672/
Keinh672/
Kckeehan671/
Kehyn671/
Keutn671/
Khajeene671/
Kiien671/
Kuenh671/
Hkien671/
Keynn671/
Hkoen671/
Keank671/
Keusseng671/
Kencg671/
Kenñe671/
Kehenova671/
Kiejn671/
Koeyn671/
Køehn671/
Qùeen671/
Qehen671/
Gkien671/
Kheeyang671/
Gkean671/
Kheehane671/
Kyien671/
Hqeen671/
Kenng671/
Kendd671/
Keuin671/
Keyyn671/
Kehng671/
Keemt671/
Kienh671/
Keinn670/
Keysn670/
Keischen670/
Koenh670/
Ckeun670/
Keeam670/
Ceien670/

Keen Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Keen in the Hindi language
केएनke'ena44.44
के़एऩkeena33.33
क़ेएनqe'ena11.11
केेएनkee'ena11.11
Keen in the Russian language
Кеенkeen-

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Keen Reference & Research

Keane FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Keen
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis