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Kildare / Re: Keys or Kays Surname?
« on: Saturday 08 February 14 21:44 GMT (UK) »
Well you should keep the DNA test in mind, If wanting to know the deeper origins of a Paternal line. Especially when the FTDNA is running a sale, I got a 12 marker Y DNA test inc. postage for about £30. They keep your results on record forever and as more and more people take the test the results become more and more telling. It can be quite surprising what you can find out with the Y DNA. Its amazing how many unrelated KEYS families there are within Ireland. Although the majority are in Ulster. They have already identified quite a few distinct groups of KEYS.
The Fermanagh KEYS: Very likely to be of Scottish Origin, from the Ulster Plantation. Anglicised from McKee,McKey.
The Donegal KEYS:Of Anglo-Norman origin who came to Ireland in the 1500's. Their name was originally De Guise.
The Biggest KEYS group from all over Ireland are of English origin with various spelllings like: KEYS,KAYS,KEYES,KAY, KAYE,KEAYS all related and in the G haplogroup.
Although It is also possible that people with the surname Keys may be of Native Irish Origin anglicised from O'Keogh or similar names it is unlikely.
If your Keys family are from originally Killdare and in what was the pale. It is most likely that they are of English descent. As this area has the oldest and most concentrated English settlement in Ireland. Long before the reformation and the plantations.
The Fermanagh KEYS: Very likely to be of Scottish Origin, from the Ulster Plantation. Anglicised from McKee,McKey.
The Donegal KEYS:Of Anglo-Norman origin who came to Ireland in the 1500's. Their name was originally De Guise.
The Biggest KEYS group from all over Ireland are of English origin with various spelllings like: KEYS,KAYS,KEYES,KAY, KAYE,KEAYS all related and in the G haplogroup.
Although It is also possible that people with the surname Keys may be of Native Irish Origin anglicised from O'Keogh or similar names it is unlikely.
If your Keys family are from originally Killdare and in what was the pale. It is most likely that they are of English descent. As this area has the oldest and most concentrated English settlement in Ireland. Long before the reformation and the plantations.