Surname Kewesh - Meaning and Origin
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Kewesh: What does the surname Kewesh mean?
The last name Kewesh is of Irish and Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name Mac Eoghain, which is composed of the elements "mac," meaning "son," and "Eoghain," referring to a clan which descended from Eochaidh, the High King of Ireland in the early 4th Century A.D. Variations of the name include Kewish, MacKewish, MacEwish, and MacKeish.
The MacEoghain clan was associated with Galloway, a region in southwestern Scotland. People bearing this surname were originally farmers and shepherds, working the lands of their ancestral home. It is thought that many moved to Northern Ireland during the 17th Century, as thousands of other Scots-Irish families did.
Today, Kewesh is still found throughout Northern Ireland, Scotland, and parts of Ireland. It is also found in towns and cities across the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where descendants of those who fled Ireland during the Great Famine of the 1840s settled.
As a name, Kewesh has a proud and ancient history, and is a testament to the resilience and strength of its many bearers. From hardworking farmers to successful doctors, entrepreneurs, and world leaders, the name Kewesh is a reminder of how far its holders have come and how much they have achieved.
Order DNA origin analysisKewesh: Where does the name Kewesh come from?
The last name Kewesh is most commonly associated with people of Middle Eastern heritage. While there is no single definitive origin of this name, some historical research has suggested that the name may have seeking to denote either a person of Judeo-Christian religion or of Christian faith with long-standing roots in the Levantine region.
Today, Kewesh may be found most frequently in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and other surrounding nations. It may also be found in diaspora communities where people of Middle Eastern heritage have settled, such as the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and other countries in the European Union.
In the United States, the states with the most individuals bearing the Kewesh surname are New Jersey, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Illinois. In Canada, the provinces with the greatest number of individuals with Kewesh as a last name are Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.
The Kewesh name is most often seen in families who have generations-long roots in their places of origin. While this surname is rare, it has been noted that alternate forms of the same name, such as Keweesh, Keweshe, and Keweish, are also seen.
Variations of the surname Kewesh
The surname Kewesh is of unknown ethnic origin, but is known to be derived from the Hebrew meaning 'God's power.' Variations and spellings of this surname include Kewashi, Kowise, Kowiski, Kwesha, Kweish, Kweesh, Kewesha, Kewash, Keweshe, Koweshe, Kewish, and Kwesh. All of these spellings and surnames are of the same origin.
Kewesh is found primarily among Jewish populations, as it is derived from Hebrew. Kewesh is most often found in Ashkenazi and Sephardic records. Many of the variations and surnames stemming from the origin of Kewesh—such as Kowise, Kwesha, Kweish—are also found in Jewish records.
Different cultures have adopted their own versions of Kewesh. For example, during the Middle Ages, the surname Kewesh was adapted by many Christian cultures as an alternative of the Hebrew Kewish. In some cultures, the surname has also been altered slightly to fit the phonetic structure of the respective language it was adapted to. This has led to some versions of the surname such as Kowiski being used amongst Polish culture.
Several people have found success with the surname Kewesh. Benny Kewesh, an Israeli jazz trumpeter and composer, David Kewesh, a lawyer and author, and Marz Kewesh, a US Senator from Alaska, are all prominent figures who carry the surname.
Famous people with the name Kewesh
- Ahmed Kewesh: Kuwaiti cricketer and member of the Kuwait national cricket team.
- Abderrahmane Kewesh: Moroccan footballer who has represented national team and club in Algeria, France and Qatar.
- Abdulaziz Kewesh: Filmmaker from Saudi Arabia credited for creating several films such as The End.
- Aya Kewesh: Lebanese photographer and visual artist with works displayed in Beirut and Paris.
- Ali Kewesh: Bahraini politician and former chairman of the Sears Roebuck & Co.
- Amna Kewesh: Omani professor of education at Sultan Qaboos University who has served on various committees related to education.
- Abdelhamid Kewesh: Iraqi artist who explores themes related to displacement and exile in his work.
- Raneen Kewesh: Emirati radio host, television presenter and media producer.
- Ahmed Kewesh: Emirati activist and founder of a NGO for youth development in the UAE.
- Kyara Kewesh: Egyptian singer-songwriter who released her debut EP in 2016.