Show ContentsKeast Surname History

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Extended Surname History Download (PDF) - Letter Size

Etymology of Keast

What does the name Keast mean?

The earliest origins of the family name Keast date back to the Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name given to a person who behaved in an imperious manner or it may have also referred to someone who played the part of an emperor in a pageant or play. Keast is derived from the German word kaiser, which means emperor. This was originally derived from the German word keiser, which in turn came from the Old German word keisar; these both were derived from the Latin imperial title Caesar, which was originally a family name. The most famous members of this family are the great Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar and his adopted son Augustus Caesar, who was the first Roman Emperor. The German title Kaiser was used by the Holy Roman Emperors from Otto I, who ascended the throne in 962 to Francis II, who relinquished the title in 1806. The surname Keast was often brought to England by German settlers, many of whom were imported as laborers following the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Early Origins of the Keast family

The surname Keast was first found in Oxfordshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Keast family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keast research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1195, 1273, 1663, 1670 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Keast History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keast Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Keast include Kaiser, Kaeser, Kaser, Keiser, Keaser, Kesser, Keysar, Keyser, Cayser and many more.

Early Notables of the Keast family

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

Migration of the Keast family to Ireland

Some of the Keast family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keast migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Keast Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Lewis Keast, (b. 1879), aged 19, Cornish miner from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Majestic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York, New York on 12th May 1898 en route to Ishpenning, Michigan, USA 1
Keast Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • John H. Keast, aged 57, who landed in America from London, in 1904
  • Percy Keast, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Sywardreath, England, in 1907
  • Henry Keast, aged 45, who landed in America from Truro, England, in 1908
  • Edwin Keast, aged 33, who landed in America from Truro, England, in 1908
  • James E. Keast, aged 23, who immigrated to America from St. Blazey, England, in 1909
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keast migration to Canada +

Keast Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Harry Keast, aged 20, who settled in Victoria, B.C., in 1914

Keast migration to Australia +

Keast Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • George Keast, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 2
  • John Keast, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1847 3
  • John Keast, English convict from Devon, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on March 6, 1848, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 4
  • Joshua Keast, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Pakenham" in 1849 5
  • Mr. William Keast, (b. 1826), aged 23, Cornish agricultural labourer from St. Hilary, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Walter Morrice" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 12th February 1849 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keast 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:

Keast Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Eliza Keast, (b. 1819), aged 43, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1862 7
  • Mr. John Keast, (b. 1819), aged 43, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1862 7
  • Miss Eliza M. Keast, (b. 1850), aged 12, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1862 7
  • Mrs. Eliza Keast, (b. 1819), aged 43, Cornish settler departing on 29th September 1862 aboard the ship "Mermaid" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 26th December 1862 8
  • Miss Eliza M. Keast, (b. 1850), aged 12, Cornish settler departing on 29th September 1862 aboard the ship "Mermaid" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 26th December 1862 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Keast (post 1700) +

  • William J. Keast, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 12th District, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1946 9
  • Anne R. Keast, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Virginia, 1996 10
  • Professor James Allen Keast (1922-2009), Australian ornithologist
  • Fraser Keast (b. 1992), Scottish association footballer
  • Theophilus William John Keast (1872-1938), Australian politician
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Reginald Keast, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 10
  • Mr. William James Keast, British Shipwright 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 11
  1. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABOUKIR 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Aboukir.htm
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAVID MALCOLM 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847DavidMalcolm.htm
  4. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anna Maria voyage to Van Diemen's Land or Port Phillip, Australia in 1848 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anna-maria/1848
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The PAKENHAM 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Pakenham.htm
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  10. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html

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