Surname Keavney - Meaning and Origin
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Keavney: What does the surname Keavney mean?
The last name Keavney has origins in Ireland and is predominantly found among the Irish diaspora in the United Kingdom and the United States. In Irish, the origin of the name is Ó Caoimhín, which is derived from the Old Irish personal name Caoimhín, a diminutive of Caoimh. This was an extremely popular personal name in medieval Ireland and is still used today.
In the Middle Ages, many Irish families moved to Scotland and England, and Keavney is a common Anglicized form of this personal name. Similarly, the last name is found in several variants including Keaveny, Keaveney, Kevney, Kevenaey, Kavanagh, and Kivein.
The traditional Gaelic form of the name is Caoimhín, and it is derived from the Old Irish word caomh, meaning “gentle, kind, or lovable”. The English translation of the name Keavney is “beloved”.
The name Keavney is extremely popular in County Mayo, Ireland, and is also found among the Irish diaspora in the United States and Great Britain. It is still a popular surname among several Irish families and those of Irish descent throughout the world.
The Keavney surname embodies a proud and strong Irish heritage, a tradition of warmth and kindness, and a deep love of family and country.
Order DNA origin analysisKeavney: Where does the name Keavney come from?
The last name Keavney is most commonly found in the United States today, although other countries have records of people with that name as well. The highest concentration of people with the surname Keavney is mainly in the Midwest, especially in the states of Wisconsin and Ohio. The name also is present in other parts of the US including California, New Jersey, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
The origin of the surname Keavney is derived from an Irish-Gaelic name, MacUibhaigh or MagAodha (which translates to 'descendant of Úathghlas'). This was a clan connected to the ancient kingdom of Tir Conaill - a region which is now called Donegal, in the North West of Ireland. As with many Irish families, members of the clan eventually emigrated to other parts of the world, including the US.
The name Keavney is also found today in Ireland, in the Southern counties such as Cork and Tipperary. In addition, the name is seen in parts of Australia, Canada, England, and Scotland.
Overall, the surname Keavney is still relatively rare. These days, it may be found primarily in the United States, particularly in the Midwest. However, it is also found in other parts of the world, indicating the family’s rich history and the global reach of the Irish diaspora.
Variations of the surname Keavney
Keavney is an English surname of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic surname Mac Cába, which in turn may have come from the older Gaelic name Mac Cathmhaoil. This name was anglicized into various spellings, including Keavney, Kavanagh, Kaveney, MacCabey, Kavanay, and Cavanaugh.
The family name Keavney is a patronymic surname, meaning 'son of' a certain ancestor, in this case Mac Cathmhaoil from which it is derived. This type of surname usually appears with a prefix, such as O', Mc, or Mac, which is usually an abbreviated version of the Gaelic name O'Cába, McCába, or Mac Cathmhaoil.
Due to the various spellings of the name, the family can be difficult to trace. While the spelling of the name is slightly different, records will often show the name with the same origin, such as the 1840 census in Ireland listing the name McKeavney.
Keavney is a relatively uncommon surname; however, it is likely most closely associated with the descendants of the original Irish branches of the family. Emigrants from these branches could be found in the UK, Australia, Canada, and the United States of America.
Famous people with the name Keavney
- Charlie Keavney: an Irish actor best known for his portrayal of Rob in the Netflix series 'Residue'.
- John Keavney- a Canadian football coach who was the head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1925 to 1929.
- Paul Keavney- an English actor best known for his role in 'The Bill' as PC Phil Hunter.
- James Keavney- an American comedian known for his roles in the films 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' and 'Back to the Future'.
- William Keavney- a British politician and a member of the House of Commons from 2011 until 2019.
- Frances Keavney- an American psychologist and professor of psychology at Stanford University.
- Mary Keavney- an Irish nun and missionary who served abroad throughout the late nineteenth century.
- Carrie Keavney- an author and scholar from the United Kingdom best known for her books on history and culture.
- Kevin Keavney- an Irish journalist who was awarded the Guild of Irish Journalist's Special Media Award in 2006.
- Seán Keavney- an Irish author of children's books and short stories, winner of the Hennessy Literary Award for New Irish Fiction.