Keay Family Tree research resources
Research the background of the Keay Genealogy using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Family History !
 | Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 1278 people with the Keay surname? In that year Keay was ranked number 2346 for popularity in the UK. |
Keay records on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Keay family tree. Many large databases are available to search covering from births, deaths and marriages, military records, census records and immigration records with many other smaller collections too. 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 Keay family. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for the Keay family. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for the Keay family. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for the Keay family. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for the Keay 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Historical References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. A DNA test can sometimes help to make a link to a particular family name if you find you share common DNA with people who have the same or similar surnames as each other. If you are lucky then you may get a match within a few generations and discover some Keay 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 Keay Tree?
Visit our Keay DNA page to find out more.
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Keay Family History
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Keay 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 Keay family tree.
Study Keay Parish Records at Find My Past.
Investigate the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Keay family name using the FreeBMD database.
Investigate Genealogy Bank for Keay family records.
Investigate MyHeritage for Keay family data.
Study the LDS Database for records of the Keay family.
Research the Keay surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Keay Military records.
| Did you know that there are currently 1581 people with the Keay surname in the UK? Keay is now ranked number 2630 for popularity in the UK. |
Keay Genealogy Databases
Explore WikiTree for user contributed Keay family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Keay data can be verified or corrected by other users.
Search MyTrees for information on the Keay family and people looking to contact living Keay relations.
Search GENi for Keay family records.
Find your Irish Keay relatives on findmypast.ie
Keay Forums
Research the Keay surname using Genealogy.com forums .
Miscellaneous Keay Databases
Explore the Ellis Island Database for information on the Keay 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 Keay surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.
Ask a Question
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