Surname Keevlin - Meaning and Origin
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Keevlin: What does the surname Keevlin mean?
The last name Keevlin is derived from the Gaelic term O Caoimhín, which translates to ‘descendant of Caoimhín’. Caoimhín is an Irish personal name derived from words meaning ‘gentle’ and ‘birth’, suggesting an ancestor of the family may have either been known for their gentle nature or was an important figure in the family’s history.
The name is found primarily in counties Sligo, Leitrim, and Donegal in the Northwest of Ireland. It is typically Anglicised to the spelling of Keevlin, and may sometimes appear as Kehilly or Keavlin.
Through genealogical records, it is possible to trace the beginnings of the family back to 1260, when Aoghakan Makcahy, thought to be the earliest known ancestor of the Keevlin surname, was mentioned in a Connacht census. It is believed that the family is descended from the O'Duinnshléibhe (Dunlevy).
The surname is still quite common in the Northwest region today, with Keevlins making up just over 3% of the population during the 2016 census. It is thought to have spread to other close by areas such as Cavan, Laois, and Kerry over the years due to migrations.
Despite the anglicized spelling, the Keevlin surname is an integral part of Irish history, providing evidence of Gaelic traditions, customs, and language that survived and was preserved for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisKeevlin: Where does the name Keevlin come from?
The last name Keevlin is not particularly common today, although it does exist in many countries across the world. In Ireland, there are a handful of Keevlin families scattered across the Emerald Isle, primarily living in the counties of Cork and Galway. In the United States, Keevlin is an uncommon surname, found mostly in the Rust Belt states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
In Scotland, the name is quite rare, while in England it is rare but there are a small number of Keevlins found mostly in counties such as Lancashire, Cheshire, and Derbyshire.
Keevlin is also present in Canada, although it is not a particularly common surname. Records suggest that the first Keevlins settled in Canada in the 19th century, moving from England and Scotland. Most of the Keevlins in Canada can be found in Ontario and the Maritime provinces.
Elsewhere, the name can be found in small pockets in Australia, New Zealand, and other countries around the world. As such, the surname may have spread as a result of people emigrating from the countries in which it originally appears.
Variations of the surname Keevlin
The surname Keevlin is of Irish origin and is found predominantly in the Province of Ulster, including in the County Donegal where the presence of this name is especially strong.
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Keevlin are Keavlin, Kealan, Kelan, Keelan, Keelin, Keelvin, Keelehan, Keeven, Keevan, Keevean, Keeveney, Kevan and Kevlin. All of these surnames originate from the same Celtic-Gaelic root, the Irish Mac Gaibhlim of the Clan O'Neill and are found mainly in the Province of Ulster, including in County Donegal and County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.
Most of these surname variants are derived from the original 'Mac Gaibhlim' form and are phonetic variations, where the placement and strength of the vowels in the name can change. The 'Keavlin' variant, for example, is a form of 'Keevlin' which has shifted the emphasis of the 'ee' vowels forming more of a sound akin to 'a'.
Several families of the 'Keevlin' name have become well-known and distinguished in recent times; the most famous being James and Patrick M. Keevlin, two brothers who were among the Irish rebels who actively sought the republication of Ireland during the early 20th century.
The other surnames which are variations on the original 'Keevlin' name share the same place of origin in the Province of Ulster and are linked to the same Irish Gaelic root.
Famous people with the name Keevlin
- Julie Keevlin: American actor known for her role as Rachel in the movie Save the Last Dance (2001) and various TV shows including Chicago PD, Royal Pains, and Shameless.
- John Keevlin: American basketball coach most known for coaching the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA.
- Brian Keevlin: American writer and director who is best known for his work on the 1994 movie Pulp Fiction and the 1996 movie Sling Blade.
- Joshua Keevlin: American actor best known for his roles in the films Legends of the Fall and The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
- Terrence Keevlin: American filmmaker most known for his work on the films GoodFellas (1990) and The Departed (2006).
- Michael Keevlin: American rapper better known by his stage name "Gravediggaz".
- Kayla Keevlin: American singer/songwriter who has released two albums and performed around the world.
- Dave Keevlin: American hardcore punk rock drummer most known for his work with the bands Ill Repute and ShatteredFaith.
- Gary Keevlin: American photographer best known for his work on the film Moulin Rouge (2001).
- Kathy Keevlin: Professional dancer and choreographer who has worked on shows such as Hairspray (2007) and Across the Universe (2007).
- William Keevlin: American artist and sculptor who has shown his work in galleries around the world.
- Ryan Keevlin: American comedian and actor who has appeared in movies such as My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) and Beijing Noodle Café (2015).