Key History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Key is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived near a dock, and may have been employed there having derived from the Old French word kay, which became kaye, keye, and keay in Old English. These were all words for docks, or quays. The original bearers of the name undoubtedly lived near some docks, and could easily have been workers there. There is also the possibility that the name is derived from the Latin personal name Caius, a name that dates from the Roman occupation of Britain. There is a record of a Britius filius Kay in 1199, in Northants; filius means “son of.” There is a third possibility; in the north of England ka was a word for jackdaw (derived from the Old Scandinavian), and was often applied as a nickname; some nicknames became surnames and this could be one of them. However, the majority of examples of this name found in England are of the local type. This makes this name a polygenetic name, which means that it arose spontaneously at different times and places and meant different things.

Early Origins of the Key family

The surname Key was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Key family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Key research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Key History in all our PDF Extended History productsand printed products wherever possible.

Key Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Key has been spelled many different ways, including Keyes, Key, Keys, Keye, Keyse and others.

Early Notables of the Key family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Key Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Key Ranking

In the United States, the name Key is the 796^th most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. [1]

 Migration of the Key family to Ireland

Some of the Key family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

 Key migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Keys to arrive in North America: 

Key Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Martha Key, who arrived in Virginia in 1628 [2]
• Richard Key, who landed in Virginia in 1637 [2]
• Adam Key, who landed in Virginia in 1639 [2]
• Kath Key, who landed in Virginia in 1648 [2]
• Thomas and Sarah Key, who settled in Virginia in 1649
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Key Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Moses Key, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1700 [2]
• Eliza Key, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [2]
• Roger Key, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [2]
• Thomas Key, who landed in Virginia in 1714 [2]
• Philip Key, who arrived in Maryland in 1720 [2]
• … (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)