Contents [hide]

Keating History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Keating History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Although Ireland already had an established system of hereditary surnames, the Strongbownians brought many of their own naming traditions to the island. There were, however, similarities between the two systems. The Strongbownians, like the Irish, frequently used patronymic surnames, a form of surname that was built from the name of the initial bearer's father, or another older relative. Norman patronymic names, because they were originally formed in French, were often created by the addition of a diminutive suffix to the given name, such as "-ot," "-et," "-un," "-in," or "-el." Occasionally, two suffixes were combined to form a double diminutive, as in the combinations of "-el-in," "-el-ot," "-in-ot," and "-et-in." These Stronbownians also created patronymic names by the prefix "Fitz-," which was derived from the French word "fils," and ultimately from the Latin "filius," which both mean "son." This prefix probably originated in Flanders or Normandy, it has disappeared from France entirely but remains common in Ireland even today. The Strongbownian surname of Keating is derived from the Old English personal name Cyting. The Gaelic form of the surname Keating is Céitinn. The indigenous Keaty family of Ireland, whose Gaelic name is Ó Céatfhadha, occasionally assumed the surname Keating. 1

Early Origins of the Keating family

The surname Keating was first found in County Wexford (Irish: Loch Garman), founded by Vikings as Waesfjord, and located in Southeastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster.

"One of the earliest of the hibernicized Anglo-Norman families, whose name was Gaelicized Céitinn. They settled in south Leinster." 2

Early History of the Keating family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keating research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1569, 1605, 1621, 1630, 1644, 1661, 1662, 1691, 1889, 1908 and 1977 are included under the topic Early Keating History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keating Spelling Variations

During the lifetime of an individual person, his name was often spelt by church officials and medieval scribes the way it sounded. An examination of the many different origins of each name has revealed many spelling variations for the name: Keating, Keaty, Keeting, MacKeating and others.

Early Notables of the Keating family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

Seathrún Céitinn, (English: Geoffrey Keating), (c. 1569-1644), Irish Roman Catholic priest, poet and historian from Tipperary, buried in Tubrid Graveyard in the parish of Ballylooby-Duhill. "After edu...
John Keating (c. 1630-1691), was an Irish judge who became Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. He "was son of Maurice Keating of Narraghmore, co. Kildare. He was a Protestant. On 22 Jan. 1661-166...
Seán Keating (born John Keating), (1889-1977) was Ireland's outstanding painter, and President of the Royal Hibernian Academy

Keating World Ranking

In the United States, the name Keating is the 2,420^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 3 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Keating is ranked the 373^rd most popular surname with an estimated 125 people with that name. 4 And in Australia, the name Keating is the 683^rd popular surname with an estimated 5,749 people with that name. 5

Keating migration to the United States +

Ireland's Great Potato Famine left the country's inhabitants in extreme poverty and starvation. Many families left their homeland for North America for the promise of work, freedom and land ownership. Although the Irish were not free of economic and racial discrimination in North America, they did contribute greatly to the rapid development of bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Eventually, they would be accepted in other areas such as commerce, education, and the arts. An examination of immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Keating:

Keating Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ignatius Keating, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 6
Thomas Keating, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 6

Keating Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mary Keating, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 6
Abraham Keating, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 6
Barney Keating, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1812 6
Edward Keating, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 6
Anne Keating, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keating migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Keating Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Michael Keating, who settled in Harbour Main in 1750
Michael Keating, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1750
Garret Keating was a tailor of St. John's, Newfoundland in 1769 7
William Keating, who settled in Brigus, Newfoundland in 1784 7
Ms. Keating Ann U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keating Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary Keating from Cashel, Tipperary was married in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1800 7
Elizabeth Alice Butler Keating, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1818
James Keating, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1818
John Keating from County Waterford, Ireland was married in Bonavista in 1821
William Keating was a constable of Port de Grave, Newfoundland in 1821 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keating migration to Australia +

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

Keating Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Keating, (b. 1753), aged 48, Irish cooper who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1806 by hanging for stealing in 1806 9
Mr. John Keating, Irish convict who was convicted in Wicklow, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Michael Keating, Irish convict who was convicted in Tipperary, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Miss Eliza Keating, (Kain, Kane), (b. 1779), aged 34, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Miss Sarah Keating, (Margaret, Cayton), (b. 1806), aged 11, Irish house keeper who was convicted in Kilkenny, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" on 21st March 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1868 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keating 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:

Keating Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. James Keating, Irish settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 12
Mrs. Margaret Keating Née Nugent, Irish settler travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 12
Child Keating, Irish settler travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 12
Miss Mary Ann Keating, (b. 1846), aged 22, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Light Brigade" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th August 1868 13
Miss Fanny Keating, (b. 1847), aged 23, English housemaid, from Kent travelling from London aboard the ship "Ramsey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 17th June 1870 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Keating (post 1700) +

William John Keating (1927-2020), American businessman and politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio (1971-1974)
Thomas Keating O.C.S.O. (1923-2018), American monk and priest of the Cistercian order
Major-General Frank Augustus Keating (1895-1973), American Commanding General 102nd Division, North-West Europe (1944-1945) 14
Frank Keating (b. 1944), American politician, former governor of Oklahoma
Ronan Keating (b. 1977), Irish singer and lead singer of the Irish boy band 'Boyzone'
Derek Keating (1955-2023), Irish Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Mid-West constituency from 2011 to 2016
Maurice Bagenal St. Leger Keating (d. 1835), Irish soldier and author who entered the 3rd dragoons as cornet on 14 May 1778, but obtained a lieutenancy in the 22nd light dragoons on 16 Dec. 1779, and became captain on 20 June 1781, and major 13 Dec. 1782 in the same regiment 15
Seán Keating (1889-1977), Irish romantic-realist painter, President of the Royal Hibernian Academy
Justin Keating (1930-2009), Irish Labour Party politician, broadcaster, journalist, lecturer and veterinary surgeon
Marie Georgine Judith Keating QC (1957-2021), Canadian senator, provincial civil servant, and lawyer from the province of New Brunswick
... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Keating family +

Halifax Explosion

Master Frank William Keating (1913-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
Mr. Frank William Keating (1889-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
Master Russell Charles Keating (1915-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16

HMS Hood

Mr. Kenneth H W Keating (b. 1911), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 17

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Philip Keating, Irish Fireman from County Cavan, Ireland, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 18

The Keating 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: Fidelissimus semper
Motto Translation: Always Faithful

Citations +

O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
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
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Frank Keating. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Keating/Frank_Augustus/USA.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 26 October 2020
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/