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![Show Contents]() O'Keeffe Surname History
- Origins Available:
 Ireland
All Irish surnames have underlying meanings that can be traced back to their fullest points when the names first appeared in a Gaelic form. The name O'Keeffe originally appeared in Gaelic as "O Caoimh," which is derived from the word "caomh," which means "gentle." Early Origins of the O'Keeffe familyThe surname O'Keeffe was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times. "In ancient times the O'Keeffes were Marshals and chief military leaders of Desmond. They possessed several castles, and were styled Princes of Fermoy. The principal county for the Keeffes and O'Keefes at present is Cork." 1 Early History of the O'Keeffe familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Keeffe research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1640, 1655, 1670, 1691, 1703, 1740, 1747, 1778, 1791 and 1833 are included under the topic Early O'Keeffe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. O'Keeffe Spelling VariationsThe scribes who created documents long before either the Gaelic or English language resembled their standardized versions of today recorded words as they sounded. Consequently, in the Middle Ages the names of many people were recorded under different spellings each time they were written down. Research on the O'Keeffe family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including O'Keeffe, O'Keefe, Keefe, Keeffe, Keefer, Keiffe and others. Early Notables of the O'Keeffe familyNotable amongst the family name at this time was - Constantine O'Keeffe (born c. 1670) who was admitted to the French aristocracy in 1740 on the basis of his Irish pedigree, and his long service
O'Keeffe RankingIn Australia, the name O'Keeffe is the 909th most popular surname with an estimated 4,324 people with that name. 2
 O'Keeffe migration to the United States | + |
Irish immigrants began to leave the English-controlled Ireland in sizable numbers during the late 18th century. Many of these Irish immigrated to British North America or the United States in the hopes of gaining their own tract of farmland. This pattern of migration grew steadily until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine caused a great exodus of immigrants to North America. These immigrants differed from their predecessors in that they were desperately fleeing the disease and starvation that plagued their homeland, and many were entirely destitute when they arrived in North America. Although these penniless immigrants were not warmly welcomed when they arrived, they were critical to the rapid development of the United States and what would become known as Canada. Many went to populate the western frontiers and others provided the cheap labor the new manufacturing sector and the building of bridges, roads, railways, and canals required. A thorough examination of immigration and passenger lists has revealed some of the earliest people to arrive in North America with name O'Keeffe or one of its variants:
O'Keeffe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Daniel, Eugene, John, Michael, Thomas, and William O'Keeffe, all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860
- Ansty O'Keeffe, aged 16, who landed in America from Kilkenny, in 1897
O'Keeffe Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Alice O'Keeffe, aged 25, who landed in America from Castlecomer, Ireland, in 1907
- Aileen O'Keeffe, aged 3, who settled in America from Sallins, Co Kildare, Ireland, in 1911
- Annie O'Keeffe, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States from Sallins, Co Kildare, Ireland, in 1911
- Angela O'Keeffe, aged 17, who immigrated to the United States from Carrigaloe, Ireland, in 1920
- Benjamin O'Keeffe, aged 22, who immigrated to America from Glountane, Ireland, in 1920
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name O'Keeffe (post 1700) | + |
- Georgia Totto O'Keeffe (1887-1986), prominent American artist/painter and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Kristin Bair O'Keeffe (b. 1966), American novelist
- Miles O'Keeffe (b. 1954), American actor
- Michael O'Keeffe, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 7th District, 1875 3
- Mary E. O'Keeffe, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1956 3
- Esther K. O'Keeffe, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana 13th District, 1922 3
- Elizabeth F. O'Keeffe, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1944 3
- Patrice O'Keeffe, Irish-born, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 4
- James O'Keeffe (1912-1986), Irish Fine Gael politician
- Robert "Bob" O'Keeffe (1881-1949), Irish hurler who played from 1914-1915, President of the Gaelic Athletic Association (1935-1938)
- ... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
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O'Keeffe migration to the United States 
