This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Key family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Key Family History

Key Surname Meaning

English, Irish, and German: variant of Kay. Dutch: variant archaic or Americanized of Keij from the personal name Kei(je) possibly a vernacular form of Cornelius, Nicolas, or Gerrit (see Gerrits).

Compare De Kay. Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 祁 see Qi.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Key family from?

You can see how Key families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Key family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Key families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 552 Key families living in London. This was about 13% of all the recorded Key's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Key families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Key surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Key ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Key. 8% of Key men worked as a Farmer and 69% of Key women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Key were Farm Labourer and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Key | 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

  • Farmer
    8%
  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Dairy Farmer
    4%
  • Farm Labourer
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%

What Key family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 184,000 census records available for the last name Key. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Key census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Key

Passenger Lists

There are 14,000 immigration records available for the last name Key. 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 Key immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 39,000 military records available for the last name Key. For the veterans among your Key ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Key military records

You've only scratched the surface of Key family history

Discover More

What is the average Key lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Key life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Key in 1943 was 30, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Key

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Key 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Key family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial