Surname Keatley - Meaning and Origin
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Keatley: What does the surname Keatley mean?
The last name Keatley is an English surname derived from an Old English place name. The Keatley surname is thought to have originated in a place called "Kettlai", which is believed to be in County Durham, England.
The etymology of Keatley is "cottage clearing", suggesting a signifcant early settlement by people from the same family. It is likely that the family's name was derived from the place name, as families in medieval England often took the name of their home.
The Keatley surname is often found in counties throughout the North East of England, including Durham, Northumberland and Yorkshire. In some cases, the surname could be a variant of other similar-sounding place names, such as Keighley or Kettlewell.
Today the Keatley surname is quite rare, with fewer than 250 people in Britain bearing the name. However, it can also be found in the United States, where it is thought to have been brought by people of English or Irish descent. The Keatley surname is believed to be of a relatively high social class or prestige, possibly due to its prominent usage in England among the upper classes.
Order DNA origin analysisKeatley: Where does the name Keatley come from?
The last name Keatley is found predominantly in the United Kingdom today. It is most heavily concentrated in Derbyshire, where it first emerged in the late Middle Ages. It is also found with some regularity in London, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, East and West Sussex, and Nottinghamshire.
Outside of the UK, the last name Keatley can be found in countries around the world including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and as far away as India, Thailand, and the Philippines. It may be the result of emigration from the UK, or merely coincidental – with similar last names from different origins.
As more Keatleys continue to settle in distant territories, the prevalence of the surname will undoubtedly continue to develop in the years ahead. For now, however, it remains tightly bound to its British roots, where the earliest records of the Keatley line can still be found.
Variations of the surname Keatley
The surname Keatley is an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname ‘Mac an tSaoir’, which translates to ‘son of the mason’. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin of Keatley include many variations, such as Mac an tSaoir, MacKeating, MacCatty, McKittrick, MacJeffery, McKee, McKie, MacEating, McKeegan, MacGee, MacGhee, MacGeegan, MacKeaveny, MacKeever, and MacKewen.
Keatley is a name that originated in Ireland but can also be found among Scottish and English families. The variations of the name often came about as immigrants sought to adopt anglicized versions of their Gaelic surnames. The most common of these is Mac an tSaoir, which is an Irish name that translates to ‘son of the mason’. This can be recognized in the variations of the surname, such as MacGhee, MacKeating, and MacKeever.
The Mac an tSaoir/Keatley name can also be found among families who can trace their lineage to Scottish and English roots. Common variants and spellings include McKittrick, McKee, McKie, MacEating, McKeegan, MacGee, and MacGeegan. These names are derived from the Gaelic form and are recognized as the anglicized roots of the Keatley name.
Variations of the Keatley name can be found in different parts of the world, though the origin remains the same. It is a testament to the diversity of the surnames that have been passed down from generation to generation in the form of anglicized spellings and variants. The Keatley name and its variations have been carried on for centuries and will likely continue to be part of many families’ lineages for generations to come.
Famous people with the name Keatley
- Dave Keatley: known for his work with the American rock band, My Morning Jacket on their albums Z and Evil Urges
- Greg Keatley: a notable singer-songwriter, recording artist, and film score composer
- Billy Keatley: a former professional ice hockey player and two-time Stanley Cup winner (1964 and 1966)
- Emily Keatley: a British actress, best known for her role as Bellamy Hall in the BBC soap opera, Doctors (2011-13)
- Abigail Keatley: an English poet and playwright
- Rob Keatley: an Emmy Award-winning cinematographer who has worked on numerous television series, including Law & Order and Dallas
- Lucy Keatley: an award-winning Canadian songwriter, and singer best known for her hit songs from the 1970s and 80s
- Stephen Keatley: a former English football player who played for Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers during his career
- Peter Keatley: a British jazz singer and saxophonist who has worked with legendary artists such as Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, and Buddy Guy
- George Keatley: widely recognized for his work as a costume designer on numerous theater productions in the US, UK, and Australia