Surname McKeen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McKeen: What does the surname McKeen mean?
The surname McKeen is of Scottish descent and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name MacEòghainn. It is a patronymic name, meaning it is derived from the name of a father or ancestor. Specifically, McKeen translates as "son of Eòghann," which is a personal name of considerable antiquity in Scotland. The name Eòghann itself is believed to come from an old Celtic word, possibly meaning "born of the yew (tree)". The yew tree holds significance in Celtic mythology, symbolizing transformation and rebirth. As surnames in their current form were not used until after the Norman Conquest of 1066, the McKeen family lived in the lands of Kynnard in Perthshire. Over the years, members of the Clan dispersed to various regions of Scotland and Ireland, and, later, to North America during the Great Migration of the 17th and 18th centuries, thus spreading the surname McKeen.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKeen: Where does the name McKeen come from?
The surname McKeen has Irish roots and originates from the Gaelic name Mac Eóin, meaning "son of Eóin"; it’s Anglicized as "son of John." It is derived from the pre 10th century Old Gaelic name 'MacEoghain' or 'MacKeon'. Variants include Mackon, McKean, McKeon, and others. It should be noted that every Gaelic clan who had the property, used the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" which signified "son of."
The surname began showing prominence around the southern Uláid territories, and some parts of what is now known as the province of Ulster, which includes counties of Ireland: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone, with some parts of Donegal, Cavan, and Monaghan.
Today, the surname McKeen, its variants, as well as those who have descended from the clans, can be found in many nations. Immigrations, mainly forced by the political and religious issues of the 19th and 20th centuries, have dispersed most of the Gaelic surnames to England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, North America and many other countries. However, the surname McKeen maintains strong ties to its Irish roots, and is most common in Ireland and the United States.
Variations of the surname McKeen
The surname McKeen originates from the pre 10th century Old Gaelic surname Mac Eoghain (son of Eoghan). Other variants may include McKean, McKane, McKain, McEan, McKeon, McKiernan, McCune, McKeone, and Mackean. Some of these variations can be attributed to regional differences, as well as Anglicization of the original Gaelic name. Each of these variants have distinct spelling but can be traced back to the same Gaelic origin, reflecting the complexity of Irish name conversions over centuries.
Many of these surnames have migrated to different parts of the world and have adapted to local phonetic and spelling conventions. The multitude of McKeen variants indicates how names have evolved over time due to factors such as migration, regional dialects, and cultural assimilation.
The name Eoghan, from which these surnames derive, is a popular Irish given name and is equivalent to the English name Owen. Consequently, the English surname Owen could be considered a relative of McKeen and its other variations. However, it should be noted that surname origins and relations can be complex and have numerous historical factors at play. Therefore, specific genealogical research may be required for more refined connections.
Famous people with the name McKeen
- Angus McKeen: a Canadian composer and guitarist
- Don McKeen: a former professional Canadian football player
- Eliza McKeen: a Canadian novelist
- John McKeen: a former member of the Canadian House of Commons
- Mary McKeen: a Canadian politician
- Robert McKeen: a Canadian ice hockey player
- Thomas McKeen: a Canadian pianist
- Will McKeen: a former mayor of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Bobbi McKeen: a Canadian television personality
- Cheryl McKeen: a Canadian television host and journalist