Kay Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Kay Name Meaning: Believed to have derived from the Anglo-Saxon word 'caeg' meaning 'key', or possibly the French word 'kaye' meaning 'quay'.Also may have originated from the Welsh name 'Gaius' meaning 'happy'. Also a middle English word for 'left-handed'.

May have referred to a key maker or someone who looked after keys, possibly a topographical name referring to someone who lived or worked near a 'quay' or 'wharf', may have also been a nickname for somone left-handed.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Kay Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Kay family

Profession Census Frequency
Cotton Weaver 464
Living On Own Means 163
General Labourer 115
Dress Maker 98
Cotton Spinner 86
Cotton Winder 83
Scholar 76
General Servant Domestic 67
Farmer 52
Coal Miner Hewer 47
Cotton C Weaver 40
Coal Miner 36
Cotton Card Room Hand 36
School 36
Domestic Servant 33
Cotton Piecer 33
Iron Moulder 33
Dressmaker 29
Stone Mason 28
Charwoman 27
House Keeper 27
Laundress Wash 26
Butcher 24
Cook Domestic 24
Coal Hewer 23

Kay Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Kay 100% 85,028
2 Key 67% 32,408
3 Kaye 75% 27,763
4 Oakey 40% 5,180
5 Keay 75% 4,721
6 Okey 50% 1,867
7 Cay 67% 937
8 Keigh 20% 291
9 Keey 50% 281
10 Cais 25% 199
11 Quaye 40% 189
12 Keye 50% 163
13 Kye 33% 158

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The surname Kay is the most popular version of all its varients

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