Looking for theIrish origin of my grandmother’s family surname Gay?

+3 votes
1.6k views
Hello. I have traced my heritage of my biological father’s mother, May Gay.  Her maiden name is Gay. I am a direct descendant of Henry Gay, the first of this surname to arrive in Perry County Kentucky. He settled near Bowlingtown and Buckhorn, on the North Fork of the Kentucky River. He named a tributary creek, Gay’s Creek. He also served in the Revolutionary War. I believe his first descendent here was Thomas Gay, who came from Northern Ireland. I know there are several families with this name, who emigrated from England, Scotland, and Ireland. But what I have located states Thomas Gay late 1600’s from Ireland. He was possibly an indentured servant. He was also the Father of William Gay. I hope to receive some assistance. I thank you in advance for your cooperation. Thank you.

Lastly, the Dad who raised me was not my biological father, DNA has proven that. DNA has proven the lineage mentioned above. I have lots to learn.
in Genealogy Help by Carrie Monty G2G Rookie (250 points)

4 Answers

+2 votes
 
Best answer
If you would like to know more we have tons of Information on ancestry.com. Henry Gay is my 5th great grand father . His father was dr William gay Senior who married Elizabeth rolling. She is a like the 3rd descendant of Pocahontas! My grandmother is nana belle gay who married my grandfather Edward Wright. We have lots of information on all of the gay family. I was born and raised 2 hours north of Frankfort in Indiana but now live in Finchville Kentucky just outside of Frankfort, Louisville, , and Lexington. If anyone has photos or anything from this time please email me at bradywright1988@gmail.com this email will remain active.
by Brady Wright G2G Crew (590 points)
selected by Richard Devlin
+3 votes

Last name: Gay

SDB Popularity ranking: 778

This interesting name has two possible origins, both French, and both introduced by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066. The first of these derives from a nickname or byname bestowed on a light-hearted, joyful or cheerful person, from the Old French word "gai", full of joy, in Middle English "gai(e)". The second possible origin is locational, where the surname derives from any of the places in Normandy called "Gaye", such as that in La Manche, where the placename derives from an early owner bearing a Germanic personal name beginning" Wai" or "Gai". The first recording of the name from this source is Hilda de Gay, in the 1192 Oxfordshire Pipe Rolls. A famous namebearer was John Gay (1685 - 1732), the poet and dramatist, author of "The Beggar's Opera". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Osward le Gay, which was dated 1176, in the "Surrey Pipe Rolls", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.



Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Gay#ixzz5CCDZpsvS

by Frank Gill G2G Astronaut (2.5m points)
+3 votes

Gay Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

https://www.houseofnames.com/gay-family-crest

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Check out the Gay history and family crest/coat of arms. Free Search. Explore the Gay family history for the English Origin. What is the origin of the name Gay? ... The surname Gay was first found in Oxfordshire where they held a family seat from very early times.

GAY Family Surname - Northern Ireland - Emerald Ancestors

https://www.emeraldancestors.com/family-surname?surname=GAY

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GAY Names Northern Ireland Genealogy. ... Meaning and Origins of the Surname. We have no additional information on the origin of the GAY Family surname at present. ... Gildea - view Gildea Family Names for Northern Ireland Irish Surname Index. Kilday - view Kilday Family Names for Northern Ireland (Matheson ...

The Surname GAY - John Barrett Robb, Family Historian

www.johnbrobb.com/JBR-GAY-sur.htm

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Jan 1, 2017 - Finally, the several families of Scotch-Irish Gays who came into Pennsylvania in the 1720-1740 period, and so on to the western Virginia frontier, most likely came over from western Scotland, by way of Ireland, although they may not have originated specifically in the Scottish west. The maps show quite a ...

The Surnames GAY & GUY ... · ‎John McKee Gay (1797-1877)

by Frank Gill G2G Astronaut (2.5m points)

Gay in Ireland - John Grenham

https://www.johngrenham.com/findasurname.php?surname=Gay

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Your Gay Irish ancestry with John Grenham. ... Parishes where Gay and a second surname are found together. Surname: ... Gaye, rare: Dublin, Cork etc. Ir. Mac Giolla Dé (servant of God). However present distribution suggests an English origin, which is from French gai, light-hearted. Quite common in England. See also ...

Gay Surname Meaning, Origins & Distribution - Forebears

forebears.io/surnames/gay

Gay Surname Meaning & Statistics ... 1641 (PBK., p. 209), and David Gay and Alexander Gay, sailors, were burgesses of the same burgh in 1661 (Inquis. ..... Merry, Blithe [Middle English Old French gay(French gai), gay, merry; O.H.Ger. wáhi, pretty] (Celtic) a nickname from the Goose [Gaelic geadh— Irishgédh (dh mute].

+2 votes
We are related. I’m almost certain of it. I am a descendant of people names Gay in that exact area of Kentucky. Can you email me? Jivy . Myers @ Gmail . Com?
by
I also come from KY Gays. Margaret Peggy Gay was my 4x great grandmother

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