Keitink 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 Keitink is derived from the Old English personal name Cyting. The Gaelic form of the surname Keitink is Céitinn. The indigenous Keaty family of Ireland, whose Gaelic name is Ó Céatfhadha, occasionally assumed the surname Keitink. 1

Early Origins of the Keitink family

The surname Keitink 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 Keitink family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keitink 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 Keitink History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keitink Spelling Variations

Church officials and medieval scribes spelled names as they sounded; therefore, single person, could have his name spelt many different ways during their lifetime. While investigating the origins of the name Keitink, many spelling variations were encountered, including: Keating, Keaty, Keeting, MacKeating and others.

Early Notables of the Keitink 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 education in a school near his birthplace, where Irish literature was taught, he was sent abroad for his university education. The name of 'P. Geofroy Ketting, docteur en theologie, Vatterford,' appears in a list of Irish priests who were protected and educated by the Archbishop of Bordeaux at Bordeaux between 1605 and 1621. Keating certainly returned to Ireland as a priest after an...
Another 97 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Keitink Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Keitink family

Ireland went through one of the most devastating periods in its history with the arrival of the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Many also lost their lives from typhus, fever and dysentery. And poverty was the general rule as tenant farmers were often evicted because they could not pay the high rents. Emigration to North America gave hundreds of families a chance at a life where work, freedom, and land ownership were all possible. For those who made the long journey, it meant hope and survival. The Irish emigration to British North America and the United States opened up the gates of industry, commerce, education and the arts. Early immigration and passenger lists have shown many Irish people bearing the name Keitink: Daniel, David, James, John, Michael, Patrick, Peggy, Peter, Thomas and William Keating all arrived in Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1860. In Newfoundland, Michael settled in Harbour Main in 1750.

The Keitink 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)