Surname Kennan - Meaning and Origin
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Kennan: What does the surname Kennan mean?
The last name Kennan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Cianáin". The prefix "Ó" signifies "descendant of" while "Cianáin" is a diminutive form of the personal name "Cian", which means "ancient" or "enduring". Thus, the surname Kennan translates as "descendant of the ancient one" or "descendant of the enduring one". This surname was traditionally used among families in counties Tyrone, Derry and Donegal in Northern Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisKennan: Where does the name Kennan come from?
The surname Kennan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Ó Cianáin, meaning "descendant of Cianán." The name Cianán is a diminutive form of Cian, which means "ancient" in Gaelic. This surname dates back to the Middle Ages, and the Kennan family has a long history in Ireland, particularly in the county of Monaghan in the province of Ulster.
Today, the name is still most commonly found in Ireland, although there are significant populations of people with the last name Kennan in countries like the United States, England, Canada, Australia, and Scotland. Due to Irish emigration over centuries, many Irish surnames have become scattered across the globe. Thus, like many Irish names, Kennan has become more global but retains a strong presence in its country of origin.
Variations of the surname Kennan
The surname Kennan has several variations, alternate spellings, and surnames from the same origin. Some common variations and spellings of the surname Kennan include Keenan, Kenan, Kenyon, and Kinnan.
Keenan is the most frequent variant of the name, which is of Irish descent. Its Gaelic form is "O' Cianain" meaning "descendant of Cianan". The name Cianan itself has various forms such as Cian, Kian, and Keanan.
Kenan and Kinnan are other English equivalents of the surname seen in North America and parts of Europe. Kenyon is a lesser-known variant, derived from a place-name in Lancashire, England and adopted as a last name.
Some other surnames of the same origin include O'Keenan and O'Kenan, retaining the original Gaelic prefix ‘O,’ indicating ‘descendant of.’ These versions are less common today as the prefix often dropped off over time.
Despite the varying spellings, all these surnames share a common origin and have variations due to regional pronunciations and Anglicization over centuries, particularly during the large-scale Irish diaspora.
Famous people with the name Kennan
- George Kennan: (1904: 2005) George F. Kennan was an American diplomat and political adviser. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kennan was a key figure in the containment of Soviet influence during the Cold War. He wrote the famous X Article which detailed the Truman Doctrine.
- Herbert Kennan: (1922: 2003) Herbert Kennan was a former American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for four teams from 1943 to 1954.
- Chris Kennan: (1947: ) Chris Kennan is an American musician, songwriter, and author. He was a founding member of the popular 1970s country rock band Richmond County Express.
- Anne Kennan: (1888-1976) Anne Kennan was an Australian theatre and cinema actress during the 1940s through the 1970s.
- William J. Kennan: (1864-1935) William J. Kennan was an American businessman and newspaper publisher from Pennsylvania. He founded The Pittsburgh Dispatch in 1875.
- Tom Kennan: (1891-1955) Thomas Kennan was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1913 to 1914.
- Ken Kennan: (1920-2006) Ken Kennan was an American trumpet player, teacher and arranger, best known for his jazz work.
- Pete Kennan: (1924-2014) Pete Kennan was a business executive who was active in civic affairs in Miami, Florida, in the 1950s and 1960s.