KEATING
Keating is a surname of Irish provenance, whose etymology traces back to the Gaelic Mac Céitinn. The literal meaning of the name is “son of Céitinn”, and the personal name Céitinn is believed to stem from the Irish word céad meaning “first”, and fionn meaning “fair” or “white”. Consequently, scholars interpret the surname as denoting “descendant of the fair‑haired one” or “son of the first fair one”. This derivation places the name firmly within the Celtic tradition of patronymic surnames.
The earliest recorded forms of the surname include Keating, Keeting and occasionally McKeating. These spellings signify the Anglo‑Irish nature of the family, as the use of the prefix Mac or Mc points to a Gaelic connection while the core name reflects an English medieval origin. Edward MacLysaght, the leading authority on Irish surnames, notes that the Keatings first entered Ireland during the Anglo‑Norman invasions of 1169‑1170. He regards them as one of the earliest settler families to have embraced a Irish identity after their arrival.
MacLysaght further observes that the name can be traced to the pre‑7th‑century English patronymic Cyting, a compound of cyta meaning “kite” and used as a nickname for a fierce or rapacious individual. The suffix ing indicates “sons or dependants of”. The Keatings first established themselves in County Wexford, subsequently extending their influence northward. By 1613 a writer on Queen's County (modern‑day Offaly) described the family as a “great sept of people” there, and from 1302 onwards members of the sept held significant offices, including sheriffs and members of parliament. The most distinguished of the line was John Keating (1635–1695), who ascended to the position of Lord Chief Justice in 1679.
The heraldic arms granted to the Keating family portray a silver field dominated by a red saltaire, above which four green nettle leaves are positioned. The crest features a red boar clutching a green nettle leaf in its jaws. This imagery reflects an association with strength and perseverance, traits admired by families of Norman descent settling in Ireland.
Variations of the surname are numerous, arising from regional dialects, phonetic spelling by non‑native record keepers, or deliberate Anglicisation. Common variants include Keaton, Keeton, Keeten, Kiton, Ceitin, Ketting, Katting and Kating. The prefix O was also applied in some instances, producing O'Keating, though this form has largely fallen out of use in contemporary naming practice. These disparate spellings, however, share a core lineage, as they all derive from the original Gaelic name.
Historically, the Keatings have been associated with the scholarly tribes of Munster, a province in southern Ireland, and later with the large sept that settled in Wexford. Their social, cultural and political roles expanded across the region, culminating in the prominence of figures such as the 17th‑century historian and poet Geoffrey Keating of Tipperary. Today the surname remains most common in the Leinster region, particularly in the counties of Wexford, Wicklow, Louth and Dublin, where it is a well‑recognised line of descent. Migration and diaspora have carried the name across the Atlantic, establishing a notable presence in the United States, England, Australia and Canada.
In contemporary usage, the name Keating continues to be borne by individuals of diverse professions and backgrounds, yet it remains a marker of Irish heritage and a testament to the enduring legacy of Anglo‑Norman settlers who embraced the Gaelic tongue and culture. The surname’s etymology, heraldry and documented history collectively embody the blend of English and Irish elements that characterises much of Ireland’s surname tradition.
Typical given names associated with the Keating surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Keating in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Keating are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate Hobnob.
There are approximately 6,925 people named Keating in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,366th most common surname in Britain. Around 106 in a million people in Britain are named Keating.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Keating
- Dominic Keating - Actor
- Caron Keating - Television presenter (1962 to 2004)
- Michael Keating - Actor
- Ronan Keating - Irish recording artist, singer, musician, and philanthropist
- Charles Keating - Actor (1941 to 2014)
- Tom Keating - Art restorer and forger (1917 to 1984)
- H. R. F. Keating - Crime fiction writer (1926 to 2011)
- Roly Keating - Chief Executive of the British Library
- Paul Keating - Actor
- Johnny Keating - Musician (1927 to 2015)
- Albert Keating - Football player (1902 to 1984)
- Michael Keating - Political scientist
- Reg Keating - Football player (1904 to 1961)
- Frank Keating - Sportswriter (1937 to 2013)
- Matthew Keating - Politician (1869 to 1937)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.