KEAYS
Keays
The surname Keays is of English origin and is classified as a habitational surname derived from the Old English word "caeg", meaning "key". The name may have been given to someone who lived by a key, worked as a key keeper, or was in some way associated with keys or locks.
The Keays family name has been traced back to various regions in England, including Yorkshire and Lancashire. Over the centuries, different branches of the Keays family may have established themselves in different parts of the country, leading to variations in spelling and pronunciation.
Notable individuals bearing the surname Keays include (but are not limited to) Sir Arthur Keays, a prominent British politician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and Emily Keays, a renowned author and social activist of the Victorian era.
The coat of arms associated with the Keays surname features key-like symbols, emphasising the name's association with locks and security.
Today, the surname Keays is relatively rare compared to other English surnames but continues to be borne by families across Britain and descendants who have spread to other parts of the world.
There are approximately 96 people named Keays in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around one in a million people in Britain are named Keays.