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Kays Family History

Kays Surname Meaning

English and Scottish (Glasgow): variant of Keyes.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kays family from?

You can see how Kays families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kays family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Kays families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 89 Kays families living in Yorkshire. This was about 39% of all the recorded Kays's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Kays families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kays surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Kays ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Kays. 56% of Kays men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Kays women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kays were Riveters Labourer and Shop Assistant (drapers).

View Census Data for Kays | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    56%
  • Motor Driver
    23%
  • Riveters Labourer
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Household Duties
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic Du
    5%
  • Shop Assistant (drapers)
    5%

What Kays family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 16,000 census records available for the last name Kays. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kays census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kays

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Kays. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kays immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Kays. For the veterans among your Kays ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kays military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kays family history

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What is the average Kays lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Kays life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Kays in 1957 was 43, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kays

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kays ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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