What is the origin ethnicity andor country of origin of the surname Kay?

Answer 1

There are multiple origins of this surname Kay, people from all over the world, but mostly people from the United Kingdom. The English Kay could derived from the following:

1. Nickname from Middle English ca "jackdaw".

2. Nickname from Middle English cai, kay, kei, meaning "left-handed", or "clumsy".

3. Name for a locksmith, derived from word key.

4. Someone who lived near a quay.

5. Personal name as Welsh Cai, Kei, ultimately derived from Latin name Gaius.

6. A shorten form of Katherine, derived from Greek katharos, meaning "pure", or shorten form of any personal name that starts with K-.

(The source can be found below at related links below)

There is also the Scottish and Irish Kays, a reduced form of McKay, anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Aodha, name meaning "fire".

There are other Kay bearers out there that are not English, Scottish, or Irish. Their origins are listed here below.

1. Dutch and North German: Name for someone who lived by a quayside, from Dutch kaai, and German kai, meaning "quay". There is also the surname Kaa, Van Der Kaay, Kaaij, perhaps could derived from them, perhaps of same origin.

2. Turkish: Of Turkish origin, of uncertain derivative though. Perhaps a variant of much more common name Kaya, meaning "rock". Similar surnames include Cay, Ka, Kaa and perhaps others.

3. Malaysian and Singapore (Indian?): Unexplained.. for now. Maybe Indian?

4. Chinese: Perhaps a variant of surname Cai. Another similar surname is Kai, perhaps a variant of Kai.

5. Korean: Of Korean origin, but of unknown meaning... for now. Variants include Gay, Kae, and perhaps others.

6. Philippines: Unexplained... for now.

7. Russian: Of Russian origin, but origin unexplained... for now.

8. Spanish?: Perhaps there is of Spanish origin, perhaps a variant of Spanish (Aragon) name Cay.

9. French?: Perhaps there is of French origin.

For more information, see related links below.

Answer 2

The surname Kay is of English and Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic word "caoch" which means "fire" or "from the wharf". The name was often given to someone who lived near a quay or wharf.