Keat History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Keat family

The surname Keat was first found in Norfolk, where the name is generally thought to have been derived from a baptismal name as "the son of Kett, but whether Kett represents a nick, of Catherine, or, like Kit, of Christopher, I cannot say." 1

The first record of the name was Ailnod Kete who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1166. A few years later, Richard Kete was recorded in Suffolk in 1221 and in Durham, Robert Chet was listed at Boldun in 1183. Richard Kyte was recorded in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1243. 2

William Ket was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk in 1273. 1 2 Ralph atte Kete was registered in Kent in 1292, Peter le Kyte was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327 and John Kette was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1327. 2

The famed poet John Keats (1795-1821), was "born in London, at the sign of the Swan and Hoop, 24 The Pavement, Moorfields. These premises were occupied as a livery stable by one John Jennings, into whose service the father of the poet, Thomas Keats, had entered as a lad. Families of the name of Keats are found settled in Devonshire both north and south, and of the origin of Thomas Keats nothing is known except that he came either from that county or from Cornwall." 3

Early History of the Keat family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keat research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1476, 1487, 1510, 1600, 1633, 1661, 1666, 1696, 1700, 1705, 1744, 1757, 1808, 1812 and 1834 are included under the topic Early Keat History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keat Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Keat have been found, including Keate, Keete, Keyte, Keite, Keat, Keet, Keats and many more.

Early Notables of the Keat family

Distinguished members of the family include

Sir Jonathan Keate, 1st Baronet (1633-1700), of The Hoo, County of Hertford, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1666; Sir Gilbert Hoo Keate, 2nd Baronet (c. 1661-1705); and Sir Henry Hoo Keate, 3rd Baro...
Sir Richard Goodwin Keats (1757-1834), the English admiral, elder son of the Rev. Richard Keats, curate of Chalton in Hampshire, afterwards head-master of Blundell's school, Tiverton, and rector of Bi...

Keat migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Keat Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Fred Keat, (b. 1872), aged 18, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Taroba" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 22nd July 1890 4

Keat migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Keat Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. P. Keat, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th March 1858 5
Miss Hannah Keat, (b. 1849), aged 23, Cornish general servant departing on 31st May 1872 aboard the ship "City of Auckland" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 3rd September 1872 6
Edward Keat, aged 44, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1872
Mary Keat, aged 37, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1872
John Keat, aged 10, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1872
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Keat (post 1700) +

Preston Keat (b. 1966), American political scientist
Daniel Keat (b. 1987), New Zealand footballer

Historic Events for the Keat family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. Dennis Trevor Keat, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 7

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Auckland 1872-80 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html