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Origins of the surname Kay

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Origins of the surname Kay

fsinc_1  (View posts) Posted: 15 Sep 2002 10:26AM GMT
Classification: Lookup
Surnames: Kay, Keay
Reposted from the Genforum Scotland forum
From The Surnames of Scotland" by Dr. G.F. Black
Keay is a variant of Kay.
There was an old family named Kay in Yorkshire.
Kay and Kaye occur in various parts of England as far back as 13th century.
The Welsh forename Kei comes from the Latin Caius.

It may be connected to the MacKay or Macaoidh family.
The MacKays of the Isle of Man dropped the Mac. Early examples are Kee 1610, Kay 1617, Key 1616, Kie 1618. Some Scottish branches may have dropped the Mac earlier.
The spelling Keay was common in Perthshire.

Other spellings: Qua 1317, Ka 1399, Kaa 1370, Cay 1474, Kay 1552, Kae 1667.
SubjectAuthorDate Posted
fsinc_1 15 Sep 2002 10:26AM GMT 
Sheila Ives (nee Kay) 16 Jun 2005 4:29PM GMT 
grahamkay1959 18 Oct 2006 11:07PM GMT 
Marcie 19 Oct 2006 12:20AM GMT 
grahamkay1959 19 Oct 2006 9:06AM GMT 
   

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