Surname Keough - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Keough: What does the surname Keough mean?
The last name Keough is of Irish Gaelic origin and is derived from the Gaelic surname "Mac Eochaidh", which means "son of Eochaidh". The name Eochaidh itself is formed of two elements - "each" meaning horse and "aidh" meaning an act or action, essentially translating to "horse rider" or "horseman". Thus, the surname Keough can be considered to signify descendants of a horseman. This surname was primarily found in the southeastern county of Kilkenny, Ireland. In the course of time and due to emigration, the Keough surname has spread to various part of the world, especially in countries like the United States, Australia and Canada. Spelling variations also exist, including Keogh, Kehoe, and MacKeogh. Despite these variations, the central meaning remains rooted in its Gaelic origins.
Order DNA origin analysisKeough: Where does the name Keough come from?
The surname Keough is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Eochaidh" which means "son of Eochaidh", with Eochaidh being a personal name based on the Gaelic "each", meaning horse. The addition of “Mac” makes it a patronymic surname, a common practice in Gaelic culture. Notably, the surname underwent changes during the process of anglicization and the spelling varies, including 'MacKeogh', 'Kehoe', etc.
The name predominantly comes from the Leinster province in Ireland, particularly in counties Wicklow and Wexford. However, forced immigration and the Great Famine led many Irish families to spread around the world in the 19th century.
As of today, the Keough surname is most common in the United States, owing to Irish immigration during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is also prevalent in counties of its origin, Ireland, and other English-speaking countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada. People with the Keough surname can be found across various professions and walks of life.
Variations of the surname Keough
The surname Keough has variants, alternative spellings, and related surnames primarily arising from Irish origins. Keough purportedly traces back to the Gaelic "Mac Eochaidh," which means son of Eochaidh, or essentially, son of horseman. Oftentimes, the spellings of such names were altered as a result of their transcription by English clerks, leading to the multitude of variants seen today.
Alternative spellings and variants of the surname include Kehoe, Keogh, McKeogh, McKeough, and MacKeough. Kyo and Kyoe might also be associated spellings for Keough. Some versions of the surname may also drop the 'K' altogether, resulting in versions like Eogh or Eough.
Derived or related surnames could include MacEochaidh, similar sounding Irish surnames like Keoghane, or other horse-related surnames in Gaelic such as MacEachaidh or MacEachen.
It should also be noted that surname spelling can additionally be influenced by regional accents and dialects, which explains the presence of the wide array of alternate spellings and pronunciations. Some of these variations may have become surnames adopted by branches of the family in different geographical locations or at different periods of time.
Notably, these alternate spellings can be especially common in census records, immigration documents, and other historical records due to the frequent phonetic transcriptions.
Famous people with the name Keough
- Danny Keough: Musician and former husband of Lisa Marie Presley.
- Jacqueline Keough: Actor and niece of Danny Keough.
- Steven R. Keough: American author.
- Charles Keough: American photographer and publisher.
- Patrick S. Keough: American lawyer.
- Ryan Keough: Canadian ice hockey player.
- Jae Keough: American television presenter.
- Maureen Keough: American model.
- Matthew Keough: American baseball player.
- Susana Keough: Actress.
- Abigail Keough: Actress.
- Keali'i Keough: Hawaiian entertainer, musician, and singer.
- Peter Keough: American film critic.
- Dirk Keough: American television host.
- Chris Keough: American actor.
- Mary Keough-American artist and ceramicist.
- Kiana Keough: American professional wrestler.
- Thomas Keough: American politician.
- Anthony F. Keough: American civil engineer.
- Claire Keough: American journalist.