Surname Keeffe - Meaning and Origin
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Keeffe: What does the surname Keeffe mean?
The last name Keeffe is an anglicization of a Gaelic surname from Ireland. It is derived from the old Irish name "ó Caoimh", which derives from the Gaelic word "caomh" meaning "gentle" or "beautiful". The Ireland Records' General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns of Ireland from 1851-1911 indicates that the name was common in County Cork, County Tyrone, and County Donegal.
The family descended from the Caomh clan of ancient Ulster, part of the Uí Néill people. This branch of the Ó Caoimh clan settled in north Galway in the 11th century and from there spread to other parts of the country.
In terms of genealogy, Keeffe is somewhat rare. It is thought that there are only a few hundred living bearers of the name.
As a given name, Keeffe is typically a derivative of the name Eóin, which is the Gaelic form of the English name John, meaning “God is gracious”. A few records also suggest that the name Keeffe could have also been derived from the English name Keith.
Ultimately, the name Keeffe is a symbol of the long story of the people of Ireland. It speaks to the history of a people who valued kinship, respect, and loyalty, and has been passed down for generations as their legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisKeeffe: Where does the name Keeffe come from?
The last name Keeffe is relatively uncommon today, but it can still be found in some areas. The surname is mostly found in Ireland, with some occurrences in Scotland, England, and the United States.
In Ireland, the Keeffe name is mainly associated with the counties of Limerick, Tipperary and Cork, with some occurrences in Kerry. These are the locations where the surname is found most commonly today.
Emigrants from these regions in Ireland have spread the Keeffe surname to other countries, in particular the United States, where many with the name trace their roots to Ireland. According to the US Census Bureau, the most recent figures available, the states with the highest number of Keeffe's where Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida and California.
The name Keeffe is also found in Scotland and England, but its presence is much less common. The General Register Office in Scotland showed that the name Keeffe had less than 200 occurrences in Scotland in the late 19th century. Similarly, the 1881 census of England showed that the name Keeffe was recorded 39 times, which indicates that the surname had not spread widely in England at that time.
Today, the Keeffe surname is found in small numbers in Ireland, England, Scotland and the United States. Its usage is more frequent in some areas than others, but the name is still present in the population of these countries.
Variations of the surname Keeffe
The surname Keeffe is an ancient Irish moniker and has many different variants, spellings, and even related surnames based on the way the name has been distorted through history. Some of the variants include Kaff, Caff, Kaffe, Kiff, Kiffe, Coffee, Coffe, Kaf, Kef, Keyffe, and Cough. As a result, there are several related surnames, such as Cuffey, Caufield, Coughlan, Coffey, Coffman, Kepple, and Kavanagh.
The root of the name Keeffe comes from the Gaelic "O Caoimh" (pronounced "Keve"), which was derived from the word "caomh," meaning “gentle, kindly, and loved.” As a result, the original spelling of the name was most likely O'Keefe, which was the most common way Irish names were recorded in official records in the past.
Throughout time and multiple migrations, many of the variants and related surnames of the same origin have developed. In Scotland, the name was changed to MacCaffee and MacKiffee, whereas the English version is Coffee, Coffey, and Coffe. In continental Europe, the name has variants such as Kafe, Kaplan, and Kofmann. In America, the name has been changed yet again to Kef, Kaffe, Kiph, and Kiffe.
In conclusion, the variations and related surnames of the same origin for the surname Keeffe are extensive, which makes it easy for descendants to become confused about their exact ancestry. However, all of the different spellings can be traced back to the same origin, highlighting the ancient Irish roots of this unique family name.
Famous people with the name Keeffe
- Georgia O'Keeffe (Artist)
- Brigid O'Keeffe (Business Exec)
- Harrison O'Keeffe (Actor)
- Edward O'Keeffe (Audio Engineer)
- Kris O'Keeffe (News Reporter)
- Les O'Keeffe (Author and Entrepreneur)
- Paul O'Keeffe (Clergyman)
- David O'Keeffe (Actor)
- John O'Keeffe (Politician)
- Jack O'Keeffe (Actor)
- Francis O'Keeffe (Fencer)
- Kevin O'Keeffe (Musician)
- William O'Keeffe (Archbishop)
- Martin O'Keeffe (Cardinal Archbishop)
- Margaret O'Keeffe (Philanthropist)
- Jane O'Keeffe (Opera Singer)
- Laura O'Keeffe (Writer)
- Richard O'Keeffe (Counselor-at-Law)
- P.J. O'Keeffe (Accompanist)
- Sarah O'Keeffe (Sports Media Personality)