Surname Killeen - Meaning and Origin
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Killeen: What does the surname Killeen mean?
The surname Killeen is an Irish name derived from the Gaelic “O’Cillín,” making it an alias form of O'Keeley or Keeley, two very common names in Ireland. It is derived from the word for “sprite” in ancient Irish, which could refer to the otherworldly “little people” that were believed to inhabit many parts of the Emerald Isle before Christianity came to dominate the region.
The original bearer of the Killeen surname could have either been the descendant of the original clan O Keeley, who lived near the townland of Kilmeen in County Cork, or bear the name as an honorific or job title. Killeen is derived from the Gaelic word “Cillín”, which is still in everyday use in Ireland. The different spellings of the name Killeen suggest varied pronunciations and origins, slow and steady, fast and sharp, among them.
The family name Killeen can be still found throughout the regions of Ireland where native Gaelic and Cillín cultures are strong, such as the province of Connaught. The Killeens also made waves in America, with immigrants from Ireland settling in states such as New York, Massachusetts, and Texas.
Killeen is not just an Irish family name but a way of remembering the spirit of the Celtic people who once roamed the country. Despite the waves of modern progress, Killeens are proud to still know their heritage and live up to the spirit of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisKilleen: Where does the name Killeen come from?
The last name Killeen is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. The name is an anglicized version of the Irish "O'Cillin," which comes from the Irish "cill," meaning "church." In the U.S., the name is especially common in the central and southern Midwest, especially in the states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri.
Killeens are also found in Canada, primarily along the eastern seaboard, particularly in the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. These are areas that were historically heavily settled by Irish immigrants.
The name is also found in England and Ireland, where it is believed to have originated. The Killeen surname can be found in records from as far back as the 12th century in various parts of Ireland.
In addition to the U.S., Canada, England, and Ireland, the Killeen surname can be found throughout the world, notably in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and various parts of continental Europe.
Variations of the surname Killeen
The surname Killeen is a Gaelic name of Irish origin. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are spelled as Killen, Killeene, Killeens, Kilin, Kilne, Kilian and Killee.
The variations in spelling come mainly from the different dialects of Irish spoken in different parts of Ireland. The different spellings are due to an illiteracy rate in the English speaking parts of Ireland since English was not the original language in Ireland. Specifically for the name Killeen, it is an anglicized spelling of the Gaelic “O’Cillín”, which is derived from the personal name Cillian, meaning “associated with the Church” or “of the church”.
The Irish language transcribed many Anglicized and non-Anglicized Irish names into what are now standard spelling versions. For example, the Gaelic for Killeen is Ó Cillín and is pronounced “o kill-een”. Later variations of the name are usually attributed to immigration and anglicization of Gaelic-language surnames during the 19th century.
The anglicised versions of Killeen are found commonly in Australia, Canada, the United States, and England. They may have been derived from the Irish surname Killee, which is a name formed from an old Gaelic term meaning “son of the church”. Killee, in turn, is derived from the Old Irish personal name Cillín.
Killeen families are well-established in many countries and most notably Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The Killeen family in the United States has been strong in North Carolina, Alabama, New York and even Hawaii. There have even been some reports of Killeen families in the Caribbean Islands, especially with the surname Killee.
No matter which spelling of the surname is used, the Killeen family name carries with it a legacy of courage, loyalty, and love in Irish history.
Famous people with the name Killeen
- Siobhán Killeen: model and beauty queen
- Andrea Killeen: juggler, actress, and circus performer
- Austin Killeen: cinematographer and film director
- Joe Killeen: former Oxford United and Republic of Ireland footballer
- Teri Killeen: American attorney and judge
- Victor Killeen: American actor best known for his role in The Adina and Olga Show
- Robert Killeen: composer and sound designer
- Gene Killeen: American Major League Baseball player
- Chris Killeen: English cricketer
- James Killeen: Irish actor
- Jim Killeen: American Major League Baseball umpire
- David Killeen: Canadian ice hockey player
- John Killeen: Australian soccer player
- Peter Killeen: Australian swimmer
- Alex Killeen: American diplomat and politician
- Mary Killeen Winkelman: American blogger and philanthropist