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Irish surname

Keating: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Céitinn (de Céitinn) · Norman 'de Ketyng', i.e. 'of Ketyng, a place-name, possibly in England'

Keating is a Norman name. Woulfe (1923) gives it as Céitinn, from 'de Ketyng', and says the Keatings 'were among the earliest of the Anglo-Norman invaders', settling first in Wexford and spreading into Carlow, Kildare, Tipperary, Waterford and Cork. In 1890 Keating births were found principally in Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Dublin.

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Coat of arms associated with the Keating surname
Irish formCéitinn (de Céitinn)
MeaningNorman 'de Ketyng', i.e. 'of Ketyng, a place-name, possibly in England'
CountiesWexford, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary
Other spellings2

Origin of the Keating name

Anglo-Norman (Woulfe): from 'de Ketyng', a place-name 'possibly in England. I cannot find the spot.' The Keatings settled first in Wexford, where they obtained large grants of land, then spread into Carlow, Kildare, Tipperary, Waterford and Cork. Woulfe also prints '(Keating)', in brackets, under the Gaelic Ó Céatfhadha (Keaty), a Dalcassian family anciently seated near the city of Limerick.[1][3]

  1. Anglo-Norman invasionKeatings 'among the earliest of the Anglo-Norman invaders'; settle first in Wexford.[1]
  2. c. 1570Geoffrey Keating born at Burges or Tubbrid, near Clogheen, Co. Tipperary.[5]
  3. 1610Geoffrey Keating returns to Ireland after twenty-four years abroad.[5]
  4. 1644Date of the inscription at the old church of Tubbrid, Webb's only later record of him.[5]
  5. 1890130 Keating births registered (incl. varieties), chiefly Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Dublin.[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. WexfordWhere the Keatings first settled, obtaining large grants of land.[1]
Co. CorkKeatings spread into Cork; first county Matheson names for Keating births in 1890.[1][4]
Co. KerryAmong the counties where Keating was principally found in 1890.[4]
Co. TipperaryKeatings spread into Tipperary; Geoffrey Keating was born near Clogheen in the county.[1][4][5]
Co. DublinAmong the counties where Keating was principally found in 1890.[4]

Notable people named Keating

Geoffrey Keatingborn c. 1570Priest and historian; wrote in Irish a History of Ireland from the earliest times to the Anglo-Norman invasion.[5]

Other spellings

Keatinge · de Ketyng[1]

The Keating coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Keating surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Keating crest gifts

Clan Keating Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapSZ52 Classic Cap - Keating Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Keating Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Keating Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap RM37 Keating Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Keating Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Keating surname: questions

Is Keating an Irish or Norman name?

Norman. Woulfe gives Keating as Céitinn, from Norman 'de Ketyng', and says the Keatings were among the earliest Anglo-Norman invaders. He also lists Keating, in brackets, under the Gaelic Ó Céatfhadha (Keaty) of the Limerick area.[1][3]

What does the surname Keating mean?

Woulfe explains 'de Ketyng' as 'of Ketyng, a place-name, possibly in England', adding: 'I cannot find the spot.'[1]

Where in Ireland is the Keating name from?

The Keatings settled first in Wexford and spread into Carlow, Kildare, Tipperary, Waterford and Cork. In 1890 Keating births were found principally in Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Dublin.[1][4]

Who was Geoffrey Keating?

A priest and historian born about 1570 near Clogheen, Co. Tipperary. Woulfe says he 'made the name famous in Irish literary history'; his History of Ireland, written in Irish, runs from the earliest times to the Anglo-Norman invasion.[5][1]

Sources

  1. Céitinn — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/c/ceitinn.php
  2. de Céitinn — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/d/de-ceitinn.php
  3. Ó Céatfhadha — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-ceatfhadha.php
  4. Keating — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/keating.php
  5. Geoffrey Keating — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/GeoffreyKeating.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).