Surname Keady - Meaning and Origin

Keady: What does the surname Keady mean?

The last name Keady is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Eideaidh", meaning "son of Eideaidh". The family was first found in County Cork as far back as the 12th century.

The Keady family has a long heritage in Ireland stretching back centuries. The earliest records of them date back to 1209, when William Mac Eideaidh was mentioned in the Irish Annals of Ulster. The Keady family was known to be well-known and respected throughout the country.

In the 19th century, the population of Keady began to spread across other parts of the British Isles. It is believed that many of them took advantage of new opportunities in Britain and America, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

The Keady family have an impressive and longstanding lineage in Ireland. The coat of arms design includes gold and blue brocade and is derived from the phrase "Mac eideaidh diagh pass", translated as “the Keady family is of godly origin”.

The name Keady is still very prominent today, with many people bearing the name all over the world. Those who are lucky enough to come from this long and storied family are proud to carry their heritage with them.

Keady: Where does the name Keady come from?

The last name Keady is believed to have originated in Counties Cork and/or Kerry in Ireland. Today, it is most common in parts of Northern Ireland and southeast Ireland. In Northern Ireland specifically, the Keady surname is most commonly found in the counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, and Tyrone. It is also found in smaller numbers elsewhere in Ireland and across the Irish diaspora in Great Britain, Australia, and the United States.

In the United States, the surname is most prevalent in the states of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, California, and New Jersey. It is believed that the surname Keady first originated in Ireland in the late 1600s with the birth of Thomas Keady in Co. Cork. A variety of different spellings can still be found today, such as Keady, Keadie, Keadey, and Keddy, which often indicates a different origin or point of entry into a particular area.

The name Keady in County Armagh likely had several different origins. It could have been a name brought over by members of the Inglis family who retreated to Ireland after the civil wars in Scotland, or it could have been a derivative of the pre-existing Irish 'McAdee' surname.

Altogether, today the surname Keady is most prevalent in Northern Ireland, with a smaller presence in other parts of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Keady

Keady is an Irish surname, derived from the Irish name Mac Éadaigh, which means 'son of Éadadh'. Variants of the name include Mac Ceady, Mac Ceddy, Mac Keeaddy, O'Keady, O'Kaddy, Keaddy, Keddy, and Keadie. Spelling variations of the surname include MacCeady, MacCeddy, MacKeeaddy, O'Keady, O'Kaddy, Keaddy, Keddy, Keadie, and Keady.

Many of the spelling variations of the Mac Éadaigh surname are Anglicized forms of the Gaelic surname.Keady is the variant most often used by bearers of the surname today. Variants of the surname have been recorded in this form in Ireland since medieval times.

The original form of the surname, Mac Éadaigh, is most common in modern Irish Gaelic, although one variant is spelled as Mac Éagda in the past. The O' prefix of the O'Keady variants of the surname disappeared in 18th century Ireland during the Anglicization of Irish surnames.

The Mac Éadaigh surname is derived from the Old Irish word "édach" which means "stringed". This name was depictions of creatures such as birds, which are associated with Dublin, the place where the original surname was likely found, according to records.

One notable bearer of the surname was Thomas Keady, who was born in County Kildare and served as a soldier in the Confederate forces during the American Civil War.

Famous people with the name Keady

• Pat Keady: an Irish film, television, and theatre actor, director, and writer best known for his roles in films like Ashes of Time, Steel Toes, and High Fall Risk.
• Stan Keady: a professional basketball player and head coach of men’s basketball at Loyola University Marymount.
• Paul Keady: an Irish film producer, director, and actor best known for directing the horror films The Unborn, The Amazing Bulk, Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman, and The Lawnmower Man.
• Barry Keady: an Irish comedian and television writer known for his work on shows like Mrs. Brown’s Boys, Bridget & Eamonn, and Your Bad Self.
• Dan Keady: an American professional soccer player currently playing for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.
• Maggie Keady: an American wheelchair racer and advocate for disability rights.
• John Keady: an American lawyer and business executive who served as the senior vice president and general counsel for Nestle USA, Inc.
• Fergus Keady: an Irish folk singer, songwriter, and traditional Irish instrument player known for his recordings of traditional Irish songs and instrumentals.
• Paul Keady Jr.: an American actor who has appeared in productions such as Wolves and The Fault in Our Stars.
• Audra Keady: an American artist, children’s book author, and illustrator known for her books such as The Little Rabbit Who Wanted to Fly.

Other surnames

Keadian