O'Keeffe
An Irish surname meaning a descendant of a name associated with the word for “gentle” or “kind.”
The #2,079 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 17,730 Americans shares it.
Etymology
O'Keeffe is the anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Caoimh, from the personal name Caoimh, related to the Gaelic word cáomh, meaning “gentle,” “kind,” or “pleasant.” The prefix Ó means “descendant of,” so the name originally meant “descendant of Caoimh.” In English spelling, the surname often appears without the apostrophe as OKeefe or Okeefe.
History
The name is strongly associated with County Cork in Ireland, especially the ancient territory of Fermoy, where the O'Keeffe family were historically prominent. Like many Irish surnames, it was Anglicized in several spellings during periods when Gaelic forms were less commonly written in official records. The surname is well represented in Irish diaspora communities, especially in the United States and other English-speaking countries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same Gaelic root appears in several Irish surnames and personal names linked to the idea of gentleness or beauty.