There was an old family of this name (Kay) in Yorkshire, and Kay and Kaye are recorded in Lincolnshire, Hunts, and Cambridgeshire, as far back as the thirteenth century (Guppy, p. 430). The Middle Welsh personal name Kei is a borrowing from Latin Caius (J. Morris Jones, A Welsh grammar, p. 102). (2) Some of the later records of the name may derive from Macaoidh (Mackay), as in the Isle of Man the omission of 'Mac' is recorded there as early as 1610 (Kee), 1617 (Kay), Key (1616), Kie (1618), etc. In Scotland the 'Mac' may have been dropped earlier. Kae of Corslats were an old family of West Lothian, and Keay was common in Perthshire. Phillip Qua appears in Aberdeen, 1317 (SCM., V, p. 9), and Donald Ka there in 1399 (CRA., p. 3). Thomas Kaa on an inquest taken at Berwick-on-Tweed, 1370 (Bain, XV, 175). Patrick Ka, burgess of Linlithgow, died 1445 (Anal. Scot., I, p. 174), and Henry Ka appears as bailie of the same burgh, 1461 and 1472 (BAA., II, 137; Scot. Ant., XVII, p. 117). Ranald Cay, priest, witnessed an instrument of sasine in Perthshire, 1474 (Athole, p. 709). James Ka, who held two perticates of land in Linlithgow in 1549 (Laing, 552), may be the James Kaa who rendered to Exchequer the accounts of the same burgh in 1563 (ER., XIX p. 223). Alexander Ka was burgess of Edinburgh, 1536 (Johnsoun), Thom Kay, witness in Brechin, 1552 (REB., I, 233), and Wilham Kay, tenant under the Abbey of Newbattle, 1563 (Neubotle, p. 327). Margaret Ka in Methven, 1587 (Methven, p. 67), Robert Kaa retoured heir of Robert Kaa, in burgh of Kirkwall, 1647 (Retours, Orkney. 49), John Cay in Quhitefield, 1653 (Dunblane), and Alexander Kae, bailie of the Canongate, Edinburgh, 1677 (Edinb. Marr.). John Kae recorded in Cavcrtoune, 1683 (Peebles CR.), and Alexander Kae at Coldingham-law, 1742 (Lauder). Key 1641.

(Celtic) a contraction of Mackay, q.v. (Welsh-Latin) the O.Wel. Cai, Latin Cai-us, Gai-us [perh. conn, with Greek gaíō (γαίω), I exult, rejoice] The name Cai frequently occurs in the Mabinogion, being that of one of the knights of the Round Table, the ‘Sir Kay’ of the Morte d’Arthur.

Kay called forth his ladye, And bade her come neere; Saies, Madame, and thou be guiltye, I pray thee hold thee there.—‘The Boy and the Mantle’: Percy’s Reliques.

(Anglo-French-Celt.) Dweller at a Wharf or Quay (formerly pron. kay) [Middle English kay(e, key(e, M.French quay (French quai); Bret, kaé, enclosure, quay: Welsh cae, enclosure, hedge] (Scot.-Scand.) a nickname from the Jackdaw [Scot, kay, kae. v. under Coe]

(English, Scottish) Descendant of Gaius (rejoice); dweller near the wharf or boat landing place.

"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 Knights of the warlike Table of that noble Prince Arthur, flower of chivalry !!" 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 Woodesham, of Woodesham, Knight, AN ANCIENT Briton !!" 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 1. 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.

Vide, Cay.]

Local. In Cornish-British, signifies a hedge, inclosure, a place of security, a fortified place. Kai, German, is a quay, a wharf.

Kay is an old name in this county. It was well established in Rochdale in the 16th century (F.) Kay was the name of the rector of Mitton in 1604, and of the second founder of Bury School early last century (W. W.). John Kay of Bury invented the fly - shuttle in 1738 (B.). The Kelletts take their name from townships in the county.

Kay or Kaye is the name of an ancient and distinguished family of Woodsome in the West Riding, one of whose members received a baronetcy from Charles I. (L., Wh. C., and H. H.). The Kayes are now best represented in the Huddersfield district of the West Riding, whilst the Kays are more numerous in Lancashire. As far back as the 13th century we find this name, both as Kay and Kaye, in Lincolnshire, Hunts, and Cambridgeshire (H. R.).