Surname Keighan - Meaning and Origin
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Keighan: What does the surname Keighan mean?
The surname Keighan is derived from the Gaelic word "cioghean" which means 'calf'. The name is mentioned in a 1590 Irish document spelling the name "Keighane" meaning a calf rearer. The name Keighan is found primarily in County Roscommon, Ireland.
The name Keighan was commonly used to denote a descendant of a wealthy cattle owner or 'husbandman'. These cattle owners were of the lower landed gentry and were seen to be industrious people. Typical occupations of those with the surname Keighan include cattle dealers, farmers, and animal husbandry.
These families were among the first Irish inhabitants to move to America in search of new opportunities. The earliest recorded presence of the name in America dates back to 1844, when Luke Keighan, left Ireland and settled in New York. The name has since become well established in the USA with Keighans being traced mainly to New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Virginia.
The name Keighan symbolizes a strong connection to the land and a commitment to hard work. In modern times, the surnames Keighan is often found in families of a wide variety of economic and social backgrounds. Today, the name Keighan is a proud reminder of the prosperous and hardworking ancestors who helped to make life better for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisKeighan: Where does the name Keighan come from?
The last name Keighan is most commonly found in the United States. According to the US Census, there were over two thousand Keighans living in America in 2018. It is especially concentrated around the Northeastern region of the country, with the majority of them clustered in the states of New York, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennslyvania.
Keighan is also a popular last name in Ireland. Records from 2019 show that there were more than five thousand Keiahans living in the Emerald Isle. In fact, the surname is so popular in Ireland that it is often considered the equivalent of the English name Smith.
Due to migration, the Keighan surname has also spread to other countries such as Canada, Australia, South Africa, and United Kingdom.
Although the origin of Keighan is debated, some researchers believe it is derived from the Gaelic O'Ceathain. This was the name of an ancient clan who hailed from the West of Ireland and who were known for their allegiance to the O'Brien clan. It is also believed that the Keighan surname may have evolved from a place name, which was derived from Cés, meaning headland.
Whatever its origin, the Keighan surname is a proud family name that is perpetuated through the ages and throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Keighan
The surname Keighan is an Anglicised version of the Irish surname Ó Caogáin, which is from the personal name Caogán, meaning thin or slender. This name has several variations of spelling and surname variants which are derived from it.
The Irish surname Ó Caogáin is most commonly anglicised as Keighan, Keaghan, Kieghan, Kegan, Keane or Keohan. The surname appears as Caghan, Caghan, Caohan, Cahen, Cahan, Cahane, Cahen, Cahone, Cahaigh, Cahayg, Cahleigh, Caheea, Cahun, Keelan and Kilian.
Within Ireland, the surname is often used as an alternative to Ó Caogáin, often with the prefix ‘Ó’. This gives the variants Ó Keighan, O'Keighan, O'Keighan and O'Keaghan.
In Scotland, the surname Keighan can be found in counties such as Argyll, Aberdeenshire and Inverness-shire and may be either derived from the Gaelic form MacEacain or MacKeckan, or sometimes from the English form of the name. A variant of the English name Keighan can also be found in Connaught, where it is spelt as Keighen.
In some cases, the name has been further anglicised to Keeghan or Keighan. The variant Keeghan is found in Tyrone and Donegal, while the form Keighan appears in Wexford and Leitrim.
In the United States, the surname has been further anglicised and is now mainly spelled as Keehan. In England, the surname can have many variations, including Keighan, Kearnan, Keirnan, Keane, Kean, Coyan, Coyne, Keyen, Kain, and Kane.
Famous people with the name Keighan
- Paul Keighan: Australian businessman and former deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
- Des Keighan: Former Scottish football player and manager.
- Tom Keighan: Former professional American football player.
- Colin Keighan: British actor, singer, and television presenter.
- Joseph Keighan: English rugby union footballer who represented England.
- Jonathan Keighan: New Zealand rugby union coach.
- Julian Keighan: Australian Olympic weightlifter and Commonwealth Games gold medalist.
- Christina Keighan: Canadian race walker who competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- Ann Keighan-Buckley: Irish sprint canoeist and bronze medalist at the 2012 World Championships.
- Joe Keighan: Northern Irish former professional football player.