Surname McKeone - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McKeone: What does the surname McKeone mean?
The last name McKeone is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Eoghain, which means "son of Eoghan." Eoghan is a personal name equivalent to "Eugene" in English and means born "of the yew tree" or "well-born, noble." This surname is therefore predominantly associated with Irish heritage, although its bearers may be found all over the world due to Irish emigration. The surname manifests in various spellings such as McEwan, McKeown, and McEwen among others. As with many surnames that originated as patronymics, McKeone denotes family lineage tracing back to a progenitor named Eoghan. However, the direct ancestral connections may be challenging to delineate, especially given historical changes in surname usage and spelling.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKeone: Where does the name McKeone come from?
The surname McKeone is of Irish origin, traceable to the Gaelic name "Mac Eoghain" which means "son of Eoghan." Generally, the prefix "Mac" indicates "son of," often used in Irish and Scottish surnames.
The name Eoghan is derived from the word 'eo,' meaning 'yew,' and 'gen,' meaning 'born.' Therefore, Eoghan is interpreted as 'yew-born.' This ancient personal name was popular due to Eoghan, the prince of Tyrone, who established the kingdom of Ailech and whose descendants were powerful chiefs in Ireland.
It is believed that the surname came from Ulster, in the northern part of Ireland, but has since spread widely. The name underwent several anglicized iterations, including MacKeon, McKean, McKeone, and many others.
Today, the surname McKeone can be found in many English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and of course, Ireland. Although it is not among the most common surnames, individuals with the last name McKeone can still be found in significant numbers, especially in these countries.
Variations of the surname McKeone
The surname McKeone appears to have Irish origins. Variations and alternate spellings of this surname can include McKeon, McKone, MacKeon, MacEoin, MacEwen, MacKewan, and MacEwan. 'Mac' or 'Mc' generally signifies 'son of' in Gaelic, indicating that someone bearing this surname was likely the descendant of a man named 'Eoin' or 'Ewen', which are Irish forms of the name John.
It's also worth noting that this surname, depending on its exact origins and the fluidity of spelling over centuries, may have many other English versions. These can include, but are not limited to, Johnson, Johnstone, or Johnston, all of which also essentially mean 'son of John'.
Additionally, due to immigrations and language translations, there can be completely different surnames that are still of the same origin. In terms of phonetic similarity, the surnames McCone, McCune, McEneaney, and McEnaney might be included. Lastly, it's important to keep in mind that the accuracy of these variants can vary greatly based on individual family history and geographical movements.
Famous people with the name McKeone
- Maggie McKeone: Maggie is an American stage actor from New York and an alum of the acting conservatory at SUNY Purchase. She made her Broadway debut in 2018's Head Over Heels musical.
- Hugh McKeone: Hugh is a well-known Irish actor, who's best known for his work on the Irish-British comedy series Derry Girls. He also appeared in the 2019 drama film Blood & Marriage.
- Brian McKeone: Brian is an American professional skateboarder, who is sponsored by Element skateboards. He's from Queens, New York and often competed in Street League Skateboarding competitions in the early 2000s.
- Melissa McKeone: Melissa is an American television producer and creator, whose credits include ABC's The Bachelorette, Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23, and A Million Little Things.
- Karen McKeone: Karen is a professional long-distance runner and blogger from New Jersey. She's competed in numerous marathons, varying from the NYC Marathon to the London Marathon, and has even written her own running guide.
- Matt McKeone: Matt is an American theatre actor, best known for his roles as The Scarecrow in The Wiz and Frenchy in Grease Live!. He was part of Broadway's 2017 production of Cats, and is also a teacher at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute.