A possible
Iron Age or
Roman enclosure was north-east from the present village, identified by aerial photography, and at the north and south of the village is evidence of medieval
earthworks, field boundaries, ponds,
trackways, and
ridges and furrows. Less than west of the village is the site of St Philips Well, a medieval
water spring. The name Keyingham probably derives from the
Old English cǣgingashām or
cǣginghām meaning 'the village of the people of the
key', or 'the village at the key place'. This perhaps refers to a key shaped hill nearby, or some other topographical feature. Keyingham is listed in the 1086
Domesday Book as in the
Hundred of
Holderness, with 31 households, 30
villagers, one priest and a church. Eight
ploughlands and of meadow are recorded. In 1066 Thorfridh held the
lordship, this transferred by 1086 to Drogo of la BeuvriËre, who was also
Tenant-in-chief to King
William I. In 1823, Keyingham (or Kyingham) was a civil parish in the
Wapentake and
Liberty of
Holderness. The patronage of the
ecclesiastical parish and church was under the
Archbishop of York. In 1802, the interest from a bequest of 200
shillings was left for the education of poor parish children of 'Kayingham', administered by the
churchwardens, and the
incumbent who held his post as a
perpetual curate. Parish population in 1823 was 639. Occupations included eight farmers, two
blacksmiths, two
wheelwrights, four grocers, a corn miller, six shoemakers, two tailors, one of whom was also a
draper, a bricklayer who was also the parish clerk, a school master, the
landlord of The Blue Bell and the landlady of The Gate
public houses. Two carriers operated between the village and
Hull twice weekly. Keyingham was served from 1854 to 1964 by
Keyingham railway station on the
Hull and Holderness Railway. ==Community==