Keech History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Keech family lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Keech was a name given to a person who because of their physical characteristics and physical abilities was referred to as kedge a Old English word that described someone who was brisk or active. 1

Although one notes source has a different understanding of the origin on the name. In this case, Keech is from the "Middle English [word] keech ‘a lump of congealed fat; the fat of a slaughtered animal rolled up into a lump’, used in the 16th century for a butcher: ‘Did not goodwife Keech the Butchers wife come in then?’ (Henry IV); ‘I wonder, That such a Keech can with his very bulke Take vp the Rayes o’ th’ beneficiall Sun, And keepe it from the Earth’ (Henry VIII), where the reference is to Cardinal Wolsey, a butcher’s son. " 2

Early Origins of the Keech family

The surname Keech was first found in Cambridgeshire and Surrey where Reginald and Hugo Keche were listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1206 and 1219. 2

Years later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Peter Kech, Norfolk; and Adam Kyg, Buckinghamshire. 1

In Somerset, early rolls there show John Keche holding lands 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 3

In Norfolk, John Keche, was rector of Erpingham in 1430 and "a brass plate in the ancient church of St. Helen's, Norwich, reads: 'Hie jacet corpus Dni. Edmundi Keche, presbyteri' " 4

Early History of the Keech family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keech research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1206, 1620, 1621, 1640, 1673, 1686 and 1704 are included under the topic Early Keech History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keech Spelling Variations

Keech has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Keech have been found, including Ketch, Keech, Keach, Kedge and others.

Early Notables of the Keech family

Distinguished members of the family include

Benjamin Keach (1640-1704), was an English Particular Baptist preacher in London whose name was given to Keach's Catechism. He was the "younger son of John and Fedora Keeche, was born of poor parents...

Keech Ranking

In the United States, the name Keech is the 13,486^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Keech migration to Canada +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Keechs to arrive on North American shores:

Keech Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mrs. Keech Kezia U.E. from New York, USA who settled in Dorchester, Westmorland County, New Brunswick c. 1784 married to Lieutenant Robert Keech 6
Lieut. Keech Robert U.E. (b. 1759) from New York, USA who settled in Dorchester, Westmorland County, New Brunswick c. 1784 died in Dorchester in 1842 6
Ms. Keech Sarah D.U.E. from New York, USA who settled in Dorchester, Westmorland County, New Brunswick c. 1784 daughter of Lieutenant Robert Keech 6

Keech migration to Australia +

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

Keech Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joseph Keech, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1847 7
Solomon Keech, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Princess Royal" in 1848 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Keech (post 1700) +

Rickmond Bowling Keech (1896-1986), American jurist, Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (1947-1966)
Charles Raymond Keech (1900-1929), American board track and brick track racer, best remembered for winning the 1929 Indianapolis 500, and for setting a land speed record in 1928
William R Keech, American Professor of Political Economy at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Ray Keech (1900-1929), American board track and brick track racer best remembered for winning the 1929 Indianapolis 500, and for setting a land speed record
William Keech (1872-1948), former English football defender who played from 1895 to 1904
Matthew Keech (b. 1970), former English cricketer who played from 1991 to 2001
Margaret Majella Keech (b. 1954), Australian Labor Party politician, Member for Albert, Queensland (2001-2012)
Hazel Keech (b. 1987), born Rose Dawn, a British actress and model

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAVID MALCOLM 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847DavidMalcolm.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCESS ROYAL 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848PrincessRoyal.htm