Kay Family Tree research resources
Explore the detail of the Kay Genealogy using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Genealogy !
 | Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 15559 people with the Kay surname? In that year Kay was ranked number 249 for popularity in the UK. |
Good news! There is already a One Name Study on the Kay surname.
"Vide, Cay. "(The origin and signification of Scottish surnames. Clifford Stanley Sims, 1862)
Kay records on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Kay family tree. A vast range of data is available to search ranging from census records, births, deaths and marriages, military records and immigration records to name but a few. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to fill out a lot of your tree quickly.
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Ancestry.com Global records search results for the Kay family. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for the Kay family. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for the Kay family. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for the Kay family. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for the Kay family. |
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Historical References
"KAY, KEAY. There was an old family of this name (Kay) in Yorkshire, and Kay and Kaye are recorded in Lincolnshire, Hunts, and Cambridgeshire, as far back as the thirteenth century (Guppy, p. 430). The Middle Welsh personal name Kei is a borrowing from Latin Caius (J. Morris Jones, A Welsh grammar, p. 102). (2) Some of the later records of the name may derive from Macaoidh ( (Mackay), as in the Isle of Man the omission of 'Mac' is recorded there as early as 1610 (Kee), 1617 (Kay), Key (1616), Kie (1618), etc. In Scotland the 'Mac' may have been dropped earlier. Kae of Corslats were an old family of West Lothian, and Keay was common in Perthshire. Phillip Qua appears in Aberdeen, 1317 (SCM., v, p. 9), and Donald Ka there in 1399 (CRA., p. 3). Thomas Kaa on an inquest taken at Berwick-on-Tweed, 1370 (Bain, rv, 175). Patrick Ka, burgess of Lonlithgow, died 1445 (Ana. Scot., i, p. 174), and Henry Ka appears as bailie of the same burgh, 1461 and 1472 (RAA., n, 137; Scot. Ant., xvn, p. 117). Ranald Cay, priest, witnessed an instrument of sasine in Perthshire, 1474 (Athole, p. 709). James Ka, who held two perticates of land in Linlithgow in 1549 (Laing, 552), may be the James Kaa who rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the same burgh in 1563 (ER., XDC, p. 223). Alexander Ka was burgess of Edinburgh, 1536 (Johnsoun), Thorn Kay, witness in Brechin, 1552 (REB., i, 233), and William Kay, tenant under the Abbey of Newbattle, 1563 (Netibotle, p. 327). Margaret Ka in Methven, 1587 (Methven, p. 67), Robert Kaa retoured heir of Robert Kaa, in burgh of Kirkwall, 1647 (Retours, Orkney, 49), John Cay in Quhitefield, 1653 (Dunblane), and Alexander Kae, bailie of the Canongate, Edinburgh, 1677 (Edinb. Marr.). John Kae recorded in Cavertoune, 1683 (Peebles CR.), and Alexander Kae at Coldingham-law, 1742 (Louder). Key 1641. "(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)
DNA
Sometimes you can run into a brick wall in your tree and you just don't have enough evidence to make that next step back in time. If you are lucky then you may find some previously undiscovered Kay ancestors. Additionally, the modern DNA test can give you a breakdown of your ethnic mix - you may be surprised at the results!
Have you reached a brick wall in your Kay Tree?
Visit our Kay DNA page to find out more.
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Kay Genealogy
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Kay Genealogy that will form part of your family tree. Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a person's relations. From the sources below you will be able to find a birth record and, from that, a birth certificate can be ordered which lists the names of the mother and father, taking you back another generation in your tree. A marriage certificate may also list the names of the respective fathers of the bride and groom which may then help you to find them earlier in life on a census record enabling you to fill out more detail in the Kay family tree.
Investigate Kay Parish Records at Find My Past.
Investigate the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Kay family name using the FreeBMD database.
Check out Genealogy Bank for Kay family records.
Check out MyHeritage for Kay family data.
Check out the LDS Database for records of the Kay family.
Research the Kay surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Kay Military records.
| Did you know that there are currently 16664 people with the Kay surname in the UK? Kay is now ranked number 330 for popularity in the UK. |
Kay Family History Databases
Investigate WikiTree for user contributed Kay family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Kay data can be verified or corrected by other users.
Investigate MyTrees for information on the Kay family and people looking to contact living Kay relations.
Study GENi for Kay family records.
Find your Irish Kay relatives on findmypast.ie
Kay Forums
Research the Kay surname using Genealogy.com forums .
| Did you know that there are currently 24306 people with the Kay surname in the USA? Kay is ranked number 149 for popularity in the USA. |
Miscellaneous Kay Databases
Check out the Ellis Island Database for information on the Kay family. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.
Use the Surname Map project to look at the current distribution of the Kay surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.
Some people with the surname Kay
Abel Alan Allen Allysin Andrew Antony Barry Bill Billie Billy Birdie Brian Christian Christine Connie Crystal Cyrus David Dominic Don Edward George Herbie Hilary Iain James Jane John Johnny Joseph Julian Kenneth Kim Lisa Liz Lo Madeleina Marshall Martin Matthew Maurice Michael Monte Morris Norman Olga Paul Peter Ray Richard Robert Rosie Rudy Vernon Veronica Will Young
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