Surname Keach - Meaning and Origin

Keach: What does the surname Keach mean?

The last name Keach is derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Kychan, or Kechan. The name is likely a pet form of the Old English name Cynebeorht, and the Old German name Kainbert, both of which denote bold or brave. The name Keach can be found in written records in England as early as 1220.

The Keach family was originally rooted in Buckinghamshire, and can be traced back to the first Baronet, Sir John Keach, who held lands in Buckinghamshire in 1635. His family continued to have a strong presence in the area through the twentieth century, and some are still there today.

As a surname, the word Keach is used to denote someone of a brave and bold temperament, a characteristic which was valued in mediaeval times. It is likely that a sense of purpose and courage went hand in hand with the surname, and that these traits were handed down through many generations of the Keach family.

The Keach surname is now found across many countries throughout the world, and is particularly associated with people of British and Irish heritage. Although the original meaning of the name has changed over time, it remains a reminder of the courage and strength which characterised the life of the Keach family many years ago.

Keach: Where does the name Keach come from?

The Keach surname is most commonly found in countries of the former British Empire, particularly in the U.K., Ireland, and the U.S. Although, there are Keaches found throughout the world.

The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, being derived from "Cych", an Old English word meaning a tailor or tailor's assistant. From this, the surname later became Kitch and Kech. Variations of the name include Keitch, Keech, and Kech.

In the U.S., the most common concentration of Keach families is in Pennsylvania. In 1890, the largest numbers of Keachs were found in Lancaster and Chester Counties. In 1930, the largest population of Keachs lived in Pennsylvania followed by New York, Ohio, and Michigan.

Today, Keach is most prominently found in the eastern side of the United States, with the highest densities in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, and California. It's also found in numerous other states, including Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida.

In the UK, Keach is most widely found in Staffordshire and Warwickshire. The name is also prominent in counties throughout the South East of England, including Kent, Surrey, and East Sussex.

Whilst it's fairly common in certain parts of the world, the Keach surname is quite rare as a whole. According to the United States Census Bureau, the population of the surname in the United States in 2010 was 4,688 individuals.

Variations of the surname Keach

Keach is a surname of English origin, and is related to the Old English term ‘ceach’ which means ‘brave’ or ‘strong’. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Keach include Kache, Keetch, Keych, Kech, Kidd, and Keech.

Kache is a surname derived from Keach, which is an alternate spelling of Kech. It means ‘hollow’ and is found in England and Ireland. It is also used as a variation of the pre-seventh-century Anglo-Saxon Keech. In records of 1570 and 1606, the name is found spelled both as Kache and Keche.

Keetch is a surname of English origin, and is thought to be a variation of the popular surname Keach. It is derived from the pre-seventh-century Anglo-Saxon term ‘cicce’ and the Old English ‘ceach’, which were used to denote ‘brave’ or ‘strong’. It is found in various records dating back to 1601.

Keych is another variation of Keach with a likely origin in England and Wales. It is a spelling variant of Kech and is thought to be derived from a nickname used to denote ‘clever’ or ‘skilful’.

Kech is a surname of Anglo-Saxon origin which is thought to have come from the pre-seventh-century term ‘cicce’. It is found in various records of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, from the mid-1400s onward. Variations of Kech include Keeches, Keech, Kache, and Keych.

Kidd is a surname of English origin, which is thought to be a variation of Kidder and Keach. It has a likely origin in North England and Scotland, and in records of the fourteenth and fifteenth century, various spellings of the name were found. Spellings include Kydd, Kidde, and Kedd.

Lastly, Keech is a surname of Anglo-Saxon origin which is thought to have been derived from the Old English term ‘ceac’, which had a meaning of brave or strong. Variations of the surname include Kech, Keetch, Keych, and Kache. It is found in records of England, Wales, and Scotland.

Famous people with the name Keach

• Stacy Keach: American actor, narrator, and producer. One of his first movie roles was in Doc, a 1970 western about a frontier physician. He has starred in numerous films and television projects, most notably portraying Mike Hammer in multiple series.
• Christopher Keach: American film and television actor best known for his roles in the television series L.A. Heat and The Young and the Restless.
• Walter K. Keach: American actor and producer, best known for his roles in the television series The Walking Dead and the original Battlestar Galactica.
• James Keach: American actor, writer, producer, and director, most well known for his roles in the films The Great Waltz and The Long Riders.
• Robert Keach: American actor, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for his work in the films Ironweed and Big Night.
• Walter Keach: American actor, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for his work in the films The Conquerors and Branded.
• Hal Keach: American actor and producer. He is best known for his roles in the films Making Love and the TV show Night Court.
• Michael Keach: American actor and comedian. He is best known for his role in the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
• William Keach: British scholar and academic, most recognized for his work in the fields of Modernist literature and poetics.
• Kirk Keach: American actor known for his roles in the films American Pie and Urban Legends: Final Cut.

Other surnames

Keachie