Surname Keech - Meaning and Origin
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Keech: What does the surname Keech mean?
The last name Keech is of English origin. It is believed to be a variation of the German surname Kieck, meaning "bucket maker". The name is also found in the records of Scotland and Ireland, as well as various parts of the United States.
The name Keech has been found in records dating back to the 12th century. In fact, a Norman knight named billionaire Keech, also spelled Keych, is noted in the Rolls of 1185 – 1227 as having witnessed a charter by Walter son of Savaric in Scotland.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019, there were 731 people in the United States with the surname Keech. The vast majority of those individuals were found in the Northeast and Midwest Regions of the country, with Pennsylvania leading the way in terms of total population.
In family history research, the name Keech is found in the English counties of Norfolk, Essex, Kent, Suffolk, Buckingham, and Surrey, with many families of Keech recorded in these old counties since the 16th century. In America, many early immigrants with the surname Keech arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries primarily from mainland Europe.
Overall, the last name Keech is an old name associated with the noble families of England and Scotland and is still found in many areas of the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisKeech: Where does the name Keech come from?
The last name Keech has a historically British origin. It is most commonly found in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which were three of the four countries that made up the United Kingdom until the Brexit referendum in 2016.
In England, the last name can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word 'chiche', meaning 'brave'. It is also said to be derived from the Welsh 'ci', meaning fierce, or the Middle English word 'kitch', meaning 'small and bold'.
Today, Keech is still a relatively common surname in the UK, though it is far less common than it was a few hundred years ago. In terms of the modern United States, Keech is much less common. Records show quite a few Keechs in the US at the turn of the 19th century, but this number has declined since then. The few Keechs living in the US today are likely descendants of these original Keech settlers who chose to cross the Atlantic.
In conclusion, the surname Keech is most common in the UK, especially England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland–the four countries that made up the United Kingdom until recently. In contrast, the surname is much rarer in the United States, where only a few Keechs remain today.
Variations of the surname Keech
The surname Keech is derived from several different sources and has been established in many forms over time. Keech typically originates from the Old English word "ceoce" or "ceose" which mean either a "watchman" or "lookout". Over the years, the surname has been written in several variants, including Keach, Keitch, Keetch and Ketch. In some cases it is spelled with an 'a' or 'e' at the beginning and an 'h' at the end, like Keah or Keath. In addition, the Irish variant is spelt as Keegh.
In addition to the various spellings of the surname, it is also used as a given name in Scotland and Ireland, with extensions of the surname Keech such as Keeches, Keechle, Kechle and Keckel. It is also found as a variant of the Dutch name "Kee" or "Keij".
For most of its history, the surname was confined to the town and county of Somerset in England, with records of the name going back to the mid-13th century. From there it spread to other parts of England and Wales, as well as to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
There are many branches of the Keech family, some of which are particularly established in North America, many of which are of Irish origin. It is also found in various Anglophone countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. In these countries, the name has been largely Anglicised, and many variations of the spelling are found, such as Kich, Kiech, Kichl and Keigh.
In a nutshell, the Keech surname has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, depending on the geographical area in which it is used. It is one of the oldest surnames in the United Kingdom, and its many variations can be found around the world.
Famous people with the name Keech
- Amanda Keech: British hurdler and sprinter.
- Bob Keech: British jazz double bassist and composer.
- Chris Keech: former head coach of the University of Minnesota's football program.
- Ed Keech: British painter and sculptor.
- Frederic Keech: English actor and musical theatre star.
- Harvey Keech: American football coach.
- Johnny Keech: Australian rules footballer.
- Mark Keech: English professional footballer.
- Maud Keech: West Indian cricketer.
- Richard Keech: English Baroque composer.
- Tom Keech: English cricket player.
- William Keech: English professional cricketer.