O'Keefe
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'''O'Keeffe''' and '''Keeffe''', are the [[Anglicisation|anglicised]] versions of the [[Irish language|Irish]] Ó Caoimh, from caomh, meaning "kind" or "gentle".
The original Caomh from whom the family descend lived in the early [[eleventh century]], and was a descendant of Art, [[King of Munster]] from [[742]] to [[762]].
For all of their history the family has been strongly associated with [[County Cork]]. Originally the territory of the family lay along the banks of the [[Munster Blackwater|Blackwater river]], near modern [[Fermoy]], and were active in the wars of the [[twelfth century]] between the [[O'Connor]]s and the [[Eoghanacht]] dynasties of [[Munster]].
However, the [[Norman invasion of Ireland|arrival of the Normans]] displaced them, like so many others, and they moved west into the barony of [[Duhallow]], where their territory became known, and is still known, as [[Pobal O'Keeffe]], where 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]] (d. c. [[1655]]), who was prominent in the [[Irish Rebellion of 1641|Catholic Rebellion of the 1640s]], and his son [[Captain]] [[Daniel O’Keeffe]], who was killed fighting for [[James II of England|King James]] at the [[Battle of Aughrim]] in [[1691]]. The family estates were confiscated and sold in [[1703]] to the [[Hollow Blades Company]].
Even today, Pobal O'Keeffe is still the area in which the name is most common, with surrounding areas of [[Co. Cork]] also including many of the name. It remains relatively rare outside that county. In [[1890]], more than two thirds of the births of the name are recorded in Co. Cork.
Like many of the [[Flight of the Wild Geese|dispossessed Irish nobility]], the O’Keeffes were active in the service of the Catholic monarchs of Europe. In [[1740]] [[Constantine O'Keeffe]] (born c. [[1670]]) was admitted to the [[France|French]] aristocracy on the basis of his Irish pedigree, and his long service. The name "[[Cuif]]", found in the [[Champagne (province)|Champagne]] district of northern France are descendants of O'Keeffe [[soldier]]s.
[[Daniel O'Keeffe]] ([[1740]]-[[1786]]) was a well-known [[artist]] in [[Dublin]] and [[London]]. His brother, whose name is misspelled in [[Wikipedia]] as "[[John O'Keefe (British writer)]]" ([[1747]]-[[1833]]), was a prolific and talented [[comic dramatist]] and [[songwriter]].
[["Danno" O'Keeffe]] ([[1907]]- ) was the first [[footballer]] to win seven All-Ireland [[medal]]s, as [[goalkeeper]] for [[Kerry]] for more than 18 years. [[Padraig O'Keeffe]] ([[1889]]-[[1963]]) was a renowned [[traditional musician]] and [[traveling]] [[fiddle master]].
[O'Keefe Anecdotes : #1)It has been reported to me that the different spelling "O'Keefe, O'Keeffe & O'Keeffee" are historical in nature. Supposedly in the 16th century, 2 O'Keefe brothers decided to go into Dublin for an outing and "borrowed" two horses without asking. Now in the 16th century horse thievery was a hanging offense, but since these were good boys from a good family another punishment was devised. From that day on those boys had to add an "F" and change the spelling of their name from O'Keefe to O'Keeffe. To this day the O'Keeffe's are the descendants of Horse Thieves, Another spelling is sometimes found that of O'Keeffee. It has been reported to me that these are descendants of the O'Keeffe clan who went to France.
[[#2.)]] One day a bartender, at a restaurant I was managing in Norfolk, VA, introduced me to a gentleman named Keefe, who was at the other end of the bar. I introduced myself and asked him why his "folks" had dropped the "O." This is the story he told me about the missing "O." He claimed he was a grand-nephew of Joseph "Specs" O'Keefe.
It seems that 2 weeks before the end of the statute of limitations ran out on the robbery, he approached his dad, this man's Grandpa, and told him to take mamma down to the Cadillac dealership and pick out a new car. He said he wanted to give it to his folks as a gift. His father inquired how he was going to be able to afford a new Cadillac as a gift? Specs told his dad about his part in the robber and that the statute of limitations was almost up.
Whereupon his father turned the whole gang in to the authorities and proceeded to change his whole family's last name to "Keefe" dropping the "O."]
The family [[motto]] is Forti et Fideli nihil difficile – ''Nothing is difficult to the brave and faithful''.
==People==
* [[Andrew O'Keefe]], Australian TV personality
* [[Alfred Henry O'Keeffe]], New Zealand artist and art teacher
* [[Batt O'Keeffe]], Irish politician
* [[Ciarán O'Keeffe]], British parapsychologist
* [[Daniel O'Keefe]] (1950-) Author and professor at Northwestern University.
* [[David O'Keeffe]], jurist
* [[Derrick O'Keefe]], Canadian writer, teacher and political activist
* [[His Majesty O'Keefe]] - book and film based on it, both derived from the real-life character Captain [[David Dean O'Keefe]] (see [[Rai stones]])
* [[Eoin O'Keeffe]], Irish composer based in the UK
* [[Eugene O'Keefe]], founder of the O'Keefe Brewery in Toronto in 1862
* [[Frank O'Keefe]] (1912-89), Australian politician
* [[Georgia O'Keeffe]] (1887-1986), American artist/painter
* [[Jim O'Keeffe]], Irish politician
* [[Jodi Lyn O'Keefe]] (1978-), American actress and model
* [[John O'Keefe (British writer)]] (1747 - 1833), actually spelled O'Keeffe; an Irish playwright.
* [[John A. O'Keefe]] (1916 - 2000), American planetary scientist
* [[John C. O'Keefe]], religious leader
* [[John O'Keefe]], cognitive neuroscientist
* [[John O'Keeffe (footballer)|John O'Keeffe]], Irish footballer
* [[John O'Keeffe (footballer)|John O'Keeffe]], Irish Radio and Club DJ, also known as Johnny Murda. He also produces weekly house mixes called "Sweat".
* [[Johnny O'Keefe]], Australian musician
* [[Jonathan Rhys Meyers]], stage of Irish Actor Jonathan O'Keeffe
* [[Joseph "Specs" O'Keefe]], one of the participants in the [[Great Brinks Robbery]]
* [[Kerry O'Keeffe]], Australian cricketer and sports commentator
* [[Jada (singing group)|Lauren O'Keefe]], American singer and member of girl group Jada.
* Leeson O'Keeffe, London-Irish musician
* [[Miles O'Keeffe]], American actor
* [[Ned O'Keeffe]], Irish politician
* [[Padraig O'Keeffe]] (1887-1963) Irish traditional musician
* [[Richard O'Keefe]], computer scientist
* [[Ruth O'Keeffe]], British government councilor
* [[Sean O'Keefe]], Chancellor of [[Louisiana State University]], former [[Administrator of NASA]] and former [[United States Secretary of the Navy]]
* [[Timothy O'Keeffe]] (1926-1994), Irish-born editor and publisher
Michael O'Keeffe - Winner of UK Come Dine with Me television series
==See also==
* [[Carling O'Keefe]] breweries
* ''[[The O'Keefes]]'', a short-lived television series
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