Keim History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

When the ancestors of the Keim family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Lincolnshire. The surname comes from one of two places in Lincolnshire which bear the name Kyme: South Kyme and North Kyme, both in the vicinity of Tattershall. 1

Early Origins of the Keim family

The surname Keim was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Kestevan. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book census in 1086 initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England in 1066, the holdings are not shown but later, within the next century, it was recorded as the Honour of Kymes. 2

"This parish, which is situated on that part of the Sleaford navigation called Kyme Eau, derived its name from the Kyme family, who were barons by tenure and writ in the reign of Stephen, and had a seat here, mentioned by Leland as a 'goodly house and park,' of which only the tower now remains." 1

Sir William, the founder of the family, also founded the Priory of Bolinton about 1135. "The Kymes assumed the surname from a fair lordship, the principal place of their residence in Kesteven. " 3

Sir Philip de Kyme was the first officially recorded, succeeded by his son Sir William de Kyme. Sir Philip was Baron Kyme, Lord of the Manor, and was summoned to Parliament in 1295-1313 to represent Lincolnshire. Sir William was summoned to Parliament in 1323-1336.

Early History of the Keim family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keim research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1160, 1412, 1413, 1414, 1420, 1422, 1427, 1428, 1431, 1433, 1455, 1463 and 1530 are included under the topic Early Keim History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keim Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Keim has been recorded under many different variations, including Kimes, Kymes, Kyme, Kime and others.

Early Notables of the Keim family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Gilbert Kymer (died 1463), an early English educator and physician, Dean of Salisbury, Chancellor of the University of Oxford. was educated at Durham College, on the site of which the present Trinity College stands. He graduated as master of arts and philosophy, bachelor of laws, and doctor of medicine previously to 1420 (Tanner). In 1412-1413 he served the office of proctor, and from 1412 to 1414 was principal of Hart Hall. On 16 Dec. 1420, being still a layman, he was presented to the living of Lutterworth, Leicestershire, by William, lord Ferrers...
Another 99 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Keim Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keim Ranking

In the United States, the name Keim is the 5,817^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4

Keim migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Keims were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Keim Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Johannes Keim, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1697 5

Keim Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Michel Keim, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1728 5
Jacob Keim, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 5
Erasmus Keim, who arrived in America in 1741 5
Daniel Keim, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 5
Johann Christian Keim, who landed in America in 1781 5

Keim Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christina Keim, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1819 5
Melchoir Keim, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 5
Mathew Keim, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 5
John Peter Keim, aged 28, who landed in Missouri in 1848 5
Martin Keim, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Keim (post 1700) +

William High Keim (1813-1862), American politician, Mayor of Reading, Pennsylvania, 1848-49; defeated (Whig), 1847; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 8th District, 1858-59 6
Noah G. Keim, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for West Virginia, 1900; Member of West Virginia State Senate 13th District, 1913-16 6
Jacob Keim, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Atlantic County, 1868-69 6
H. H. Keim, American politician, Mayor of Nampa, Idaho, 1919-20 6
George May Keim (1805-1861), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Pennsylvania State Constitutional Convention, 1837-38; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 9th District, 1838-43; Mayor of Reading, Pennsylvania, 1853 6
George de Benneville Keim (b. 1884), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 1928, 1932, 1940 6
George de Benneville Keim (1831-1893), American Democratic Party politician, Harness and saddle business; Candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1887 6
George B. Keim, American politician, Burgess of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, 1933 6
Dwight S. Keim, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1956 6
Benneville de Benneville Keim (1790-1872), American politician, Mayor of Reading, Pennsylvania, 1858-61 6

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html