Kekewich History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Kekewich comes from when the family resided in the settlement of Kekwick in the county of Cheshire. The surname Kekewich belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Kekewich family

The surname Kekewich was first found in Cheshire where they were Lords of the Manor of Kekewich from very ancient times. "This family, long resident in Cornwall and Devonshire, are said to have been of Lancashire origin. There is a township in Cheshire called Kekwick, from which the name was probably borrowed. " 1

"Peamore, [Devon] now the seat of the Kekewich family, was formerly in the Cobhams and Bonviles, Tothills and Northleighs. " 2

Early History of the Kekewich family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kekewich research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1550 and 1646 are included under the topic Early Kekewich History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kekewich 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 Kekewich include Kekewich, Kekwitch, Kekwick, Kekewitch and others.

Early Notables of the Kekewich family

Distinguished members of the family include

George Kekewich of Ketchfrench

Kekewich migration to Canada +

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:

Kekewich Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Kekewich, who was recorded in the census of Ontario, Canada in 1871

Contemporary Notables of the name Kekewich (post 1700) +

Robert George Kekewich (1854-1914), English Colonel of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital