Keel
I always thought that this surname originated from the village of Keele in Staffordshire (now more famous for the university and motorway services!). However there are many Keel(e)'s from Hampshire, London
My line of this family come from Staffordshire and Lancashire.
Here are photos of some of my ancestors.
My grandmother My grandfather
Catherine Keel George Keel
(Tracey)
There is an interested story about the origin of the Keel name in my family. A distant cousin (we have the same 4 x Great grandfather) says that years ago a baby was found in a Moses basket in the village of Keele, and was dressed in clothes that the average villager could not possibly afford. There was also a handwritten note written in an educated hand, saying "To whoever finds this baby, please look after it and you will be watched to see it is well cared for". A Mr and Mrs Clarke took the baby and called him John Keel. They presumed he was the love child of a gentry family because of the clothes he wore and the well written note. The only gentry around were the Sneyds at Keele Hall and the Wedgewoods. They tended to think it might be the Wedgewoods as for some unknown reason Josiah Wedgewood took an interest in the child. It seems not long before the baby was born, Josiah Wedgewood brought an artist over from Italy to hand paint his china. He was suddenly sent packing back to Italy. John grew up, married and went to work for Josiah. John was taken ill, and Josiah sent to London for a doctor, which is rather unusual as employers in those days were not known for caring much about their workers. When the doctor arrived, Josiah was heard to say "on no account must you let this man die", but die he did, and Josiah went to his funeral. It all seems to indicate that John was a love child of one of the Wedgewoods.
When I first heard this story I, naturally took it with a pinch on salt. However on telling it to my mother (maiden name Catherine Keel), she said that her mother always said the Keel name came from Keele Hall in Staffordshire, and that there was an illegitimate child, who was son of the Keel family, living at the hall.
Since neither distant branches of this family have met or been aware of these respective similar stories, it seems to me there must be some truth in them somewhere. All adds to the rich pattern of life when you start family history.