https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OKeeffe
Recorded in the spellings of O’Keefe and O’Keeffe, this is an ancient Irish surname and is the anglicised version of the Gaelic O’Caoimh, from the Gaelic word caomh, meaning ‘kind’ or ‘gentle’.
The original Caomh, from whom the family descended, lived in the early 11th century and was a descendant of Art, King of Munster from 742 to 762. Originally the clan occupied territory along the banks of the Blackwater river in County Cork. They were driven further west by the Norman invaders after 1170, and they moved into the barony of Duhallow, where their territory became known, and is still known, as Pobal O’Keeffe. It was there that the senior branch of the family had their seat at Dromagh in Dromtarriff Parish. The last chiefs of this branch were Domhnall O’Keeffe of Dromagh (died c1655), who was prominent in the Catholic Rebellion of the 1640s, and his son Captain Daniel O’Keeffe, who was killed fighting for King James at the Battle of Aughrim in 1691.
Although they family were eventually dispossessed, Pobal O’Keeffe is still the area in which the surname is most common, with surrounding areas of Cork, Kerry, and other Munster counties also having many of the descendants.
Unlike most O surnames, O’Keeffe is one which has retained its prefix fairly consistently: in the 1880’s registration of O’Keeffes and Keeffes was about equal but to-day the O’Keeffes largely predominate. Although the surname is not very numerous outside County Cork, it is still strong enough to be included in the list of the hundred most common names in Ireland.
Noteable People with O’Keefe as their Surname:
The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Father Eoghan (Owen) O’Keefe (1656 – 1726) of Glenville, County Cork. He was a Gaelic poet of notable achievement who became president of the bards of North Cork. Following the death of his wife he entered the Church and was parish priest of Doneraile until his death. Many of the songs he composed are still sung in his native County Cork.
It is said that the famous Irish actor and dramatist John O’Keeffe was for a time known as John Keefe. He was born in Dublin in 1747 and was one of the most produced playwrights in London during the late 1700’s. He died in 1833, leaving behind over fifty comedic works, including ‘The Poor Soldier’, ‘Merry Sherwood’ and ‘Tony Lumpkin in Town’.
Constantine O’Keeffe (1672-1745) and General Patrick O’Keeffe (1740-1809) were both long serving officers in the Irish Brigade of the French Army. Constantine O’Keeffe was admitted to the French aristocracy in 1740 on the basis of his long service and his Irish pedigree.
The surname ‘Cuif’, found in the Champagne district of northern France, is descended from the O’Keeffe soldiers of the famous Irish Brigade of the French Army.
It seems there is not an active clan organisation for your name, at this time.
However, the revival of interest in Irish culture and heritage over the past 100 years has led to the revival of many Irish Clans. In more recent times, increased access to historical archives online, DNA testing and ease of travel to Ireland has led many individuals to explore their own genealogy and connections to Irish Clans. Some of these have gone on to establish Clan Associations in Ireland, the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and anywhere that the Irish Diaspora has found itself.
Clans of Ireland Ltd invite those interested in Irish Clans to contact them with a view to explore the possibility of reviving your Irish Clan.