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Keller History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Keller History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Scotland

Etymology of Keller

What does the name Keller mean?

The Keller family emerged in the ancient duchy of Swabia, which was in the southwest of Germany. Before the late Middle Ages, German people were known only by a single name. However, as populations increased and people began to travel more, it became necessary to adopt a second name. Many people, such as the Keller family, adopted the name of their feudal occupation as their surname. The name Keller is derived from the Middle High German word "kelner," which corresponds to the English occupation of steward. The kelner was the manager of the noble household.

Early Origins of the Keller family

The surname Keller was first found in Swabia, where the family contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation and would later play a large role in the political conflicts of the area. The family branched into many houses, many of which acquired estates and manors throughout the surrounding regions, where they played significant roles in the social and political affairs. Individual bearers of this name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Herman der Kelner (Keller) of Rottweil, Wuerttemberg, in 1314.

Early History of the Keller family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keller research. Another 297 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1452, 1466, 1605, 1635, 1638, 1699, 1700, 1702, 1766, 1798, 1819 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Keller History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keller Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Keller, Keler, Kelle, Kellaere, Kellere, Kellner, Kaeller, Kaellner, Kelner, Celler, Cellner, Celer, Celner, Kellern, Cellern and many more.

Early Notables of the Keller family

Notables with the surname Keller during this period were

Jean-Jacques Keller (1635-1700) and his brother Jean-Balthazar Keller (1638-1702), Swiss gunfounders from Zürich

Keller World Ranking

In the United States, the name Keller is the 321^st most popular surname with an estimated 84,558 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Keller is ranked the 996^th most popular surname with an estimated 5,455 people with that name. 2 And in France, the name Keller is the 520^th popular surname with an estimated 8,712 people with that name. 3

Keller migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Keller Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Conrad Keller, who arrived in New York in 1709 4
Frank Keller, who landed in New York in 1710 4
Frantz Keller, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710 4
Michael Keller, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1728 4
John Keller, who settled in Philadelphia in 1732
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keller Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Helena Keller, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803 4
Henerich Keller, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1803 4
Anna Maria Keller, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1803 4
Jonas Keller, who landed in New York in 1816 4
Jacob Keller, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1829 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keller Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ludwiga Keller, aged 8, who arrived in New York, NY in 1900 4
Cecilia Keller, aged 1, who landed in New York, NY in 1900 4
Gustave Keller, who landed in Arkansas in 1905 4
Otto Keller, who arrived in Arkansas in 1906 4

Keller migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Keller Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Bernard Keller, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Catharina Keller, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Magdelena Keller, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Mr. Keller Christian U.E. (b. 1726) born in Athens, Green, New York, USA from Albany, New York, USA who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 married to Elisabeth Backus they had 8 children, he died in 1790 in Fredericksburgh, 5
Mr. Keller Frederick U.E. (b. 1760) born in Athens, Green, New York, USA from Albany, New York, USA who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 he served in the Kings Rangers, was married 4 times having 23 children 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keller Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Lewis Keller, who landed in Canada in 1800
Frederick Keller was a United Empire Loyalist who settled in Fredericksburgh Township, Ontario

Keller Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Lambert Keller, aged 2, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902

Keller migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Keller Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Keller, (b. 1821), aged 18, Cornish dairymaid travelling aboard the ship "Orient" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 4th April 1839 6
Godfred Keller, aged 40, a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the ship "Pauline" 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Keller (post 1700) +

Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968), American writer who was both deaf and blind and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Evelyn Fox Keller (1936-2023), American physicist, author, and feminist
Timothy James "Tim" Keller (1950-2023), American Calvinist pastor, theologian, and Christian apologist
Joseph B. Keller (1923-2016), American mathematician, co-winner of the 1996/7 Wolf Prize and winner of the 1996 Nemmers Prize
James E. Keller (1942-2014), American judge, inductee to the University of Kentucky College of Law Hall of Fame in 2005
Brigadier-General Charles Keller (1868-1949), American Resident Member of Board of Engineers for Rivers & Harbors (1919-1921) 8
Charles Keller III (b. 1935), prominent American investment banker
Jack Keller (b. 1937), American musician, composer and producer, best known for writing some memorable theme songs for television, including the theme for 'Bewitched' and he was also a producer on 'The Monkees'
Hans Keller (1919-1985), Austrian born, American, prominent music critic in Boston
Andrew J. Keller, American politician, Mayor of Faribault, Minnesota, 1952-54 9
... (Another 93 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Keller family +

Bismarck

Willi Keller (b. 1922), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck (1941) during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he survived the sinking 10
Paul Keller (1920-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 10
Walter Keller (1917-1941), German Maschinenmaat who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 10

USS Arizona

Mr. Paul Daniel Keller, American Moulder Second Class from Michigan, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 11

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_bounty_nsw.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PAULINE 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Pauline.htm
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Charles Keller. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Keller/Charles/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html