Surname Casy - Meaning and Origin
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Casy: What does the surname Casy mean?
The last name Casy is Irish in origin, and it is derived from the surname Ó Cathasaigh, which means “descendant of Cathasach”. The given name Cathasach comes from two different Irish elements: cath, meaning “battle”, and a singular nominative form of sach, which means “wise one” or “counselor”. Collectively, the name Casy means “wise one in battle” and is associated with a brave and valiant protector.
In Ireland, the surname Casy has been documented since the 13th century in County County Tyrone, where it is still spelled Ó Cathasaigh. The name then made it to the United States in the 19th century, likely among the large immigration of Irish Americans during the period of Irish potato famine.
Today, families who have the last name Casy are quite widespread. The name has been found in countries all over the world, including the United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, and even India. This widespread distribution of the name speaks to the impressive legacy that Casy ancestors have made since the 13th century.
In Irish culture, the last name Casy is a source of great pride. It speaks to the sense of history and strength that many people of Irish heritage possess today. It is the perfect symbol of sturdiness and brave protection, and it surely has been passed down for many generations.
Order DNA origin analysisCasy: Where does the name Casy come from?
The last name Casy is most prevalent in the United States. It is the 5,115th most common name in the country according to the US Census Bureau, and is especially concentrated in English-speaking parts of the country, particularly the Midwest and Northeast.
In the Midwest, the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania each have thousands of individuals bearing the Casy name. In the Northeast, the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York also contain a high concentration of Casys.
Further abroad, it is not particularly common, but is known in large enough numbers for it to appear in the top 10,000 names of countries such as England, Wales, Scotland, Canada, and Australia. Many Casys in these countries descended from emigrants from the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries.
It is unclear where the Casy name originated from, though it could have Irish or Scottish roots. It is possible that it started as a variation of the Scottish surname "McAsy," as a result of Anglicization or a pronunciation change, as many Irish/Scottish names did.
Overall, the Casy name is more common in English-speaking countries, although it has some presence in other parts of the world as well.
Variations of the surname Casy
The surname Casy is thought to have several different variants and spellings. The most common spelling is ‘Casy’, however, there are many alternative spellings which include Cassey, Casi, Cassy, Kasi, Kasey, Kessy, Caesy and Kasee.
The surname Casy is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic O’Cathasaigh, which is derived from the personal name Cathasach, meaning "vigilant". Variants and spellings of surnames of Irish origin often vary due to the Anglicisation of Gaelic names in British documents.
In some instances, the surname Casy has been used as a variant spelling of the name Casey, which can also be spelt as Casie, Cassie, Kasey, Kacy and Kasie. In the Republic of Ireland, the surname Casy is most commonly found as a variant of the surname Casey.
The surname Casy can also be found as an anglicised version of the Gaelic surnames MacCathasaigh and O’Cathasaigh. In some cases, the O’ variant of the surname may be found as O’Kasey, O’Kasi and O’Kasee.
There have also been cases where the surname Casy has been used to anglicise the Lithuanian surname Kaziukonis. Similarly, the surname may also be found used as a variant of the Romanian surname Casea, whilst in some rare cases, it may also be used as a variant of the Welsh surname Casi.
Famous people with the name Casy
- Martin Casely-Hayford: renowned Ghanaian economist, writer, and public intellectual.
- John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute: (previously known as John Casy) Scottish noble.
- Steve Casely: formerly known as Stephen Casy, American actor, comedian, and voice actor.
- J.G. Casy: former professional American baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1915 to 1918.
- Pat Casy: founder of the Well Strung record label.
- Mike Casy: AFL-CIO Eddie Bernice Johnson Community Organizer of the Year in 2010.
- Justin Casy: Australian Aboriginal actor, best known for his role in TV series Redfern Now and A Place to Call Home.
- Anthony Casy: Grammy-nominated English pianist, composer and producer.
- Edward Casy: former Chief of Police in Tulare County, California.
- Albert M. Casy: United States Navy astronaut.
- John Thomas Casy: former Irish politician and member of Seanad Éireann.