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Keady History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Sources

Keady History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Keady

What does the name Keady mean?

The surname Keady comes from the Irish Gaelic Mac Ceadaigh, from an ancient personal name derived from the Gaelic word "cead," meaning "hundred." This name often given to the O'Mores of Leix with whom the MacKeadys were associated. In found in Munster, the name of the Corca Laoidhe sept Ó Meiceidigh, has been corrupted to MacCeidigh or Mac Eidigh, and anglicized as Keady. The name has been recorded as both O'Keady and McKeddy in the Fiants of the sixteenth century.

Early Origins of the Keady family

The surname Keady was first found in County Leix (Irish: Laois) formerly known as Queen's County, located in central Ireland, in Leinster Province.

Early History of the Keady family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keady research. Another 27 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1635 and 1793 are included under the topic Early Keady History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keady Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacKeady, McKeady, Keady, O'Keady, Keddy, O'Keddy and many more.

Early Notables of the Keady family

the MacKeady sept of Galway

Keady migration to the United States +

Keady Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Keady, who was naturalized in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1801
Joseph Keady, who was naturalized in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1840
Mary and James Keady, who immigrated to New York in 1845
Robert Keady, who took the Oath of Allegiance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1856

Keady Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John Keady, who was naturalized in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1904

Keady migration to Canada +

Keady Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Robert Keady and his family, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland 1
John Keady, who arrived in New Brunswick between 1833 and 1838
Robert Keady, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
Mary Keady, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
Mary Ann Keady, aged 6, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keady migration to Australia +

Keady Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Keady, Irish shoe maker born in Cork who was convicted in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England for 7 years for robbery, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th July 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2

Keady 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:

Keady Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Sarah Keady, aged 18, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Keady (post 1700) +

William Colbert Keady (1913-1989), United States federal judge
Gene Keady (b. 1936), successful American college basketball coach and assistant coach to the 2000 American Olympic basketball team
W. C. Keady, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1944, 1960 (alternate) 3
Patrick Keady, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 3rd District, 1867-68 4
George C. Keady Jr., American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Massachusetts, 1960 4
Tony Keady (1963-2017), Irish hurler for Galway (1985-1993)
Al Keady (b. 1975), Irish professional footballer

Historic Events for the Keady family +

Lady of the Lake

Miss Isabella Keady, Welsh traveller from Conway, Wales who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and she died in the sinking
Miss Jane Keady (b. 1815), Welsh traveller from Conway, Wales who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and she died in the sinking

The Keady 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: Conlan abu
Motto Translation: Conlan forever.

Sources +

Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-grey
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html