Key is an English and Dutch-language surname.

Notable people with the surname include:

• Al Key (1905–1976), aviator and mayor of Meridian, Mississippi
• Adriaen Thomasz Key (c. 1544 – after 1589), Flemish painter
• Alexander Key (1904–1979), American science fiction writer
• Arden Key (born 1996), American football player
• Bailie Key (born 1999), American artistic gymnast, 2013 National Champion
• Berthold Wells Key (1895–1986), British Indian Army officer
• Braxton Key (born 1997), American basketball player
• Dana Key (1953–2010), American musician
• Danny Key (born 1977), English footballer
• David M. Key (1824–1900), US Senator from Tennessee
• David McK. Key (1900–1988), diplomat from Tennessee
• Devon Key (born 1997), American football player
• Ellen Key (1849–1926), Swedish difference feminist writer
• Francis Scott Key (1779–1843), author of the United States national anthem
• Fred Key (1909–1971), aviator
• James L. Key (1867–1939), lawyer and twice Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
• Jaylen Key (born 2000), American football player
• Jennifer Key, South African mathematician
• Jimmy Key (born 1961), James Edward Key, former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball
• John Key (born 1961), former Prime Minister of New Zealand
• Sir John Key, 1st Baronet (1794–1858), Lord Mayor of London 1830–1832, MP for City of London 1832–1833
• John A. Key (1871–1954), American politician
• John Maurice Key (1905–1984), Bishop of Sherborne then Truro
• John Ross Key (1754–1821), American lawyer and judge
• Johnny Key (disambiguation)

• Johnny Key (footballer) (born 1937), English soccer player
• Johnny Key (sprinter) (born 2003), Samoan athlete

• Kathleen Key (1903–1954), American actress in the silent era, great-great-granddaughter of Francis Scott Key
• Keegan-Michael Key (born 1971), American actor, writer, and comedian
• Kelly Key (born 1983), Kelly de Almeida Afonso Freitas, Portuguese-Brazilian pop singer
• Kristin Key (born 1980), American comedian
• Laurence Key (1895–1971), English cricketer
• Lieven de Key (1560–1627), Dutch renaissance architect
• Philip Key (U.S. politician), a Representative of the State of Maryland in the United States Congress from 1791 to 1792.
• Philip Barton Key (U.S. politician), a Representative of the State of Maryland in the United States Congress from 1807 to 1812.
• Philip Barton Key (U.S. District Attorney), murder victim in a controversial nineteenth-century trial
• Rob Key (born 1979), English cricketer
• Robert Key (politician) (1945–2023), a British politician, the Conservative MP for Salisbury
• Ryan Key (born 1979), William Ryan Key, American rock musician of the pop punk band Yellowcard
• Samuel M. Key (born 1951), pen name of Charles de Lint, Canadian writer of Dutch origin
• Stephanie Key (born 1954), Australian politician and member of the South Australian House of Assembly
• Ted Key (1912–2008), Theodore Keyser, American cartoonist and writer, creator of the cartoon panel Hazel
• Thomas Key (disambiguation), several people with the same name

• Thomas Hewitt Key (1799–1875), English classical scholar
• Thomas Marshall Key (1819–1869), American politician
• Thomas Caius (died 1572), English academic and administrator

• Tim Key (born 1976), English actor, writer, and performance poet
• V. O. Key, Jr. (1908–1963), American political scientist and author
• Watt Key (born 1970), American writer
• Wilhelmine Key (1872–1955), American geneticist
• Violet Key Jones (1883–1958), Anglo-Irish writer and suffragette

See also

• Key (disambiguation)
• Keys (surname)
• Keyes (disambiguation)

Surname list

This page lists people with the surname Key.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.