Surname Keagney - Meaning and Origin
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Keagney: What does the surname Keagney mean?
The surname Keagney is of Irish origin, and it is derived from the Gaelic surname O'Caogain, which is comprised of the words ‘caoch’ meaning ‘blind’, and ‘ain’, meaning ‘chief’ or ‘chieftain’. Historians suggest that it is an anglicised version of the original Irish name which was likely adopted by the descendents of the O’Caogain family. The coat of arms depicted for the family displays a lion surrounded by stars, with a stag's head as a crest, suggesting strength and bravery, which were core values amongst the aristocracy of old Ireland.
The Keagney clan originated from County Monaghan in the northeast of Ireland before their members began a diaspora of sorts. Many of them spread outwards across the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world such as America and Australia, with new generations of the family emerging over the years. Before their migrations, the Keagney family were thought to have been respected landowners and farmers in County Monaghan.
Today, the Keagney surname is still found fairly frequently in Ireland, particularly in the area of northern Monaghan and in Belfast and Antrim. It is also found in parts of Britain, especially in Scotland and England, with the highest numbers of Keagneys in the UK found in Yorkshire. This old Irish surname remains a testament to the spread of Gaelic language and culture over hundreds of years in Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisKeagney: Where does the name Keagney come from?
The last name Keagney is fairly uncommon in modern times, but it can be found in places around the world. Keagney can be found throughout the United States, particularly in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Washington DC, but it also appears sporadically across the rest of the country as well. In Canada, it can be found mostly in Ontario and British Columbia, but also intermittently throughout the country. In the United Kingdom, Keagney is not very common, but cases of it have been found in London, Manchester, and Birmingham. In other parts of Europe, Keagney is not as common but there has been evidence of people with the surname in Germany, France, and Spain. It has yet to be found in Australia or New Zealand. Keagney may have originated from the Irish name "Mac Eochaidh", with variants including Keogh, Keoghane, Keegan, and Keegan. The surname is likely derived from the Gaelic "eocha", meaning “horse”.
Variations of the surname Keagney
Keagney is an Irish surname derived from the Irish Gaelic Mac Aodhgnaigh. It is an anglicization of Mac Aodhagáin or “son of Aodhagán”, meaning diminutive of Aodh, which is the Irish form of Hugh. Variants of this surname include MacKeagney, MacGeagney, MacGeoghegan, and MacEgan. There are also regional spellings of the name, including Kegney, Keigney, Keegney, and Keeganey. Most of these variants originated in County Mayo, Ireland and are associated with the Mayo area.
More Anglicized spellings of the name can include MacKeegney, MacKegney, Kegnie, Kegny, Keogney, Keoghan, Keoghane, Keoghayne, and Keugney. There are also several other surnames with the same origin and similar pronunciations, like Keagan, Keagon, MacKegan, MacGegan, and MacKeaghan. All of these surnames originate from Aodhagán, an Irish personal name.
The Keagney surname is still found in Mayo and the surrounding areas in Ireland today. Many descendants can also be found in England, the United States, and Canada. Variants of the name also continue to be used in today’s Irish culture, such as Keegan, an even more Anglicized version of the original Irish name. All in all, the derivation of the Keagney surname is a testament to the evolution of the Irish language and culture.
Famous people with the name Keagney
- Brian Keagney: World-renowned photographer from New York City, best known for his candid photojournalism style.
- John Keagney: American actor who enjoyed a career spanning 5 decades. His iconic roles include playing “Cochise” in the 1960 movie "Broken Arrow" and “Patton” in the 1970 film "Patton".
- Maeve Keagney: Irish comedian, actress, and screenwriter. Some of her best work includes the critically acclaimed television series “Mrs.Maher’s Way”, which she created, wrote and starred in, and the 2019 movie “The Rough and Confused”.
- Robert Keagney: American politician and former senator from Nebraska, serving from 2005-2013.
- Joe Keagney: Award-winning chef and restaurateur, best known for his restaurant chain “Keagney’s Cuisine”.
- Richard Keagney: former MLB baseball player for New York Mets.
- Nick Keagney: professional basketball player who played with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2010-2016.
- Charlotte Keagney: English-Australian actress known for her roles in the Australian soap operas “Neighbours” and “Home and Away”.
- Daisy Keagney: Australian model and fashion designer, best known for her runway shows in Sydney and Melbourne.
- Harry Keagney: English singer and songwriter who first rose to fame in the late 90s. His most successful single was “I Believe” which reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart in 2003.