Surname Keeling - Meaning and Origin
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Keeling: What does the surname Keeling mean?
The last name Keeling is of English origin, and is thought to have derived from the Old English words 'cy(e)ling' and 'cy(e)len', which mean 'cooling' and 'coolingpool' respectively. It is likely that the name referred to someone who lived near a body of cold water or belonged to a place named after a body of cold water.
The name is mostly found in the English Midlands, which is the historical home of the Anglo-Saxon people. The variations and spellings of this surname include Keling and Kelling. Other similar names are Killing, Killig, Kelinge and Killings.
Keeling is a patronymic, or last name that is taken from the given name of the father. It often indicated a relationship to a specific man, in this case, the name was likely derived from an actual man named Keeling.
The surname Keeling is thought to be associated with the occupation of a fisher, as names that refer to centres of fishing were common at this time. However, there is no direct connection, and it is likely that the name had more than one source. It is also believed that the name derived from a man belonging to a place of cooling in some way, such as a river, pond, or lake. It could also have come from a man who was in charge of a cooling house, such as one at a brewery.
Over the years, the name has come to symbolize strength and loyalty, as it has survived through the centuries and is still very much in use today.
Order DNA origin analysisKeeling: Where does the name Keeling come from?
The last name Keeling is most common today in the United States, with approximately 20,000 individuals carrying it. It is also found in Australia, where it was first brought by immigrants. In the United States, Keeling is most commonly found in the South, specifically in states like Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
According to the 2000 U.S. census, the top 3 states with the highest frequency of Keeling were Mississippi (2,996), Alabama (2,490) and Georgia (2,175). Other states in the top 10 states with highest frequency of Keeling included Texas (1,048), South Carolina (973), Kentucky (744), Virginia (546), North Carolina (491), Florida (440) and Tennessee (265).
The American Keelings likely came mainly from England, specifically from the northern counties from where the surname is first recorded in the Middle Ages. There, Keeling was derived from a place name in Yorkshire and means ‘the place where the stags or bucks are kept.’ Other individuals with the Keeling surname come from Ireland and Scotland.
Today, individuals with the Keeling last name can be found all over the United States, tracing back to the southern roots of the early American Keelings.
Variations of the surname Keeling
The surname Keeling is of ancient origin and is derived from the Old English kele, meaning a spring, making it a topographical name for someone who lived near a spring or a stream. There is an even earlier version of the name, Chalyng, which first appeared in 12th century England.
Variants, spelling and surnames of the same origin of Keeling include Kelin, Keldon, Keling, Kelen, Kelon, Keeley, Keale, Keelan, Kellen, Kellin, Kelling, Keillane, Keilan, Kellan and Kaling.
In Scotland, Keeling is often spelled Keelyng and Kelion. This version of the name can also be found in Ireland and Scotland.
In Wales, Keeling is usually spelled Keelinge or Keilyng.
There are also variants of the surname that include Keel, Keele, Keeles, Keells, Keeles and Kells. It also appears in various spelling variations such as Kelings, Keeleys, Keels, Kelings, Kellingston and Kellington.
In the United States, Keeling may also be spelled as Kelley, as well as Killings, Kelley and Killing.
The surname Keeling has also been found in Germany and France, where it is usually spelled as Kelin.
Overall, there are many variants, spelling and surnames of the same origin for the surname Keeling. While some of them may be regional in terms of which part of the world they are found in, others are popular in more than one country. Regardless, all of them are derived from the Old English kele, signifying a spring or a stream and therefore a topographical name.
Famous people with the name Keeling
- Andrea Keeling: actress in BBC’s Merlin
- John Keeling: former managing director of Fuller’s Brewery
- John Keeling: doo-wop vocalist
- Juliette Keeling: runner-up of series 3 in X Factor
- Talib Kweli: hip-hop artist
- Thomas Jefferson Keeling: American landscape artist
- Christopher Keeling: English composer, conductor, and arranger
- Keyon Dooling: former NBA player
- Tom Keeling: former professional English cricketer
- Jay Keeling: former professional English football player
- Ann Keeling: Parliamentarian and English educator
- Una Keeling: Jamaican-English international cricketer
- Jeff Keeling: American football player
- William Keeling: English goldsmith of the 16th century
- Jim Keeling: Canadian wrestler in the 1960s
- Tom Keeling: former Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
- Jihad Keeling: NBA free agent
- Reggie Keeling: NFL free agent
- Red Keeling: Rockabilly singer of the 1950s
- Grant Keeling: executive director of the South Carolina Arts Commission