KAY

(origin: Local) In Cor. Br., signifies a hedge, inclosure, a place of security, a fortified place. Kai, German, is a quay, a wharf.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

KAYE. KAY. " The family of Kaye," says an old statement, " is of great antiquity in the county of York, being descended from Sir Kaye, an ancient Briton, and one of the KnigliU of the warliliS Table of that noUe Prince Arthur, floiver of cMvalrij ! .'" It is added that his descendant at the period of the " Norman Duke that made Conquest of England, was Sir John Kaye, Knight, who married the daughter and heir of Sir John ■\7oodesliam, of Woodesham, Knight, AK AXCIENT Briton ! 1" Not to speculate upon the age in round centuries that Miss Woodesham must have been at the time of her nuptials, we may ask, where is the proof of a De Woodesham or a De anything in England " before the time of the Conquest," when this match is alleged to have taken place ? The truth seems to be, that at "Woodsome in Yorkshire there resided in very early times a family of Kay, Keay, or Kaye, the head of which, some centuries later was created a baronet by Charles I. The patent expired in 1810, but was revived shortly afterwards in favour of the reputed son of the fifth baronet. The name may be a modification of Caius or some other personal designation.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.