Contents [hide]

Kaye History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Kaye History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The Kaye surname is thought to have emerged from several different sources. In Northern England and Scotland, it comes from the Old Norse "ká," which meant "jackdaw." It also came from the Breton and Old Welsh word "Cai," and the Cornish word "Key," both of which meant "wharf." And, in some instances, this surname is no doubt derived from the Old English "Coeg," which meant "key."

Early Origins of the Kaye family

The surname Kaye was first found in Yorkshire, but the surname was also found in Lincolnshire, and Cambridgeshire as far back as the 13th century. One of the first records in Scotland was the Kae family of Croslats who were and "old family" of West Lothian. The Keay spelling was quite popular in Perthshire. Philip Qua was listed in Aberdeen in 1317 and Donald Ka was listed there too in 1399. Thomas Kaa was on an inquest taken at Berwick-on-Tweed in 1370. Patrick Ka was burgess of Linkithgow until his death in 1445. 1 The "Mac" prefix seems is difficult to clarify. Some Mackay (Macaoid) families may have shortened their name.

Early History of the Kaye family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kaye research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1219, 1246, 1372, 1500, 1640 and 1704 are included under the topic Early Kaye History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kaye Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kay, Kaye and others.

Early Notables of the Kaye family

More information is included under the topic Early Kaye Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kaye Ranking

In the United States, the name Kaye is the 4,047^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Kaye family to Ireland

Some of the Kaye family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kaye migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kaye Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Edward Kaye, who received a land grant in Virginia in 1724

Kaye Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Abraham, Joan, John, Thomas and William Kaye, who all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860

Kaye migration to Australia +

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

Kaye Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Alexander Loo Kaye, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
John Kaye, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 4
Mr. Richard Kaye, English convict who was convicted in Leeds, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. John Kaye1801, English ploughman who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. John Kaye, British Convict who was convicted in Leeds, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 12th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kaye 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:

Kaye Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. A. L. Kaye, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Simlah" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 10th June 1853 8
Mr. John Kaye, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 8
Mrs. Kaye, British settler travelling from with 4 children London aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 8
Mr. Kaye, Canadian settler travelling from Victoria, Vancouver Island aboard the shp "Glympse" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 29th November 1873 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Kaye (post 1700) +

David Daniel "Danny" Kaye (1913-1987), American actor, singer, comedian and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Judith Ann Kaye (1938-2016), née Smith, an American lawyer and jurist, Chairman of the Commission on Judicial Nomination (2009-2013)
Carol Kaye (b. 1935), American session musician who has played on an estimated 10,000 recording sessions in a 55 year career 10
William Kaye (1813-1890), American politician, Mayor of Louisville, Ky., 1863-65 11
Vincent E. Kaye, American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 7th District, 1964 11
Philip J. Kaye, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1960 11
Leonard C. Kaye, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 15th District, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1930; Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 3rd District, 1923 11
Jack Kaye, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Queens County 2nd District, 1954 11
George Kaye, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Kings County 6th District, 1938 11
Frederick A. Kaye (1796-1866), American politician, Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, 1837-41, 1844-47 11
... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Kaye family +

RMS Lusitania

Miss Hannah Ermine Kathleen Kaye, English 2nd Class passenger from London, England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 12

The Kaye Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Kynd Kynn Knawne Kepe
Motto Translation: Keep your own kin-kind.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th December 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Carol Kaye. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Carol Kaye. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Kaye
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/