Surname MacKeon - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacKeon: What does the surname MacKeon mean?
MacKeon is an Irish surname of Gaelic origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eoghain," which means "son of Eoghan." The name "Eoghan" translates to "born of the yew tree" in English. The MacKeon family was a part of the Irish noble gentry before the Norman invasion and has a long history in County Monaghan, along the Irish border. Over time, the name has seen a variety of spelling variations such as MacKeown, MacKewan, and MacEwen among others. Please note that meanings of surnames can vary based on regional interpretations and ancestral lineage, and the interpretations provided here are general overviews. This surname is widespread in Ireland, and the descendants of the clan are also found in many parts of the world due to Irish emigration.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKeon: Where does the name MacKeon come from?
The surname MacKeon has its origins in Ireland. It is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mac Eoghain, which translates to the "son of Eoghan". The first part, "Mac", means "son of", and "Eoghain" is a personal name derived from the word "Owen".
Despite its Irish origins, the surname has spread around the world due to historical emigration from Ireland, especially during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century. Currently, you can find individuals with the MacKeon surname in several countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. However, the name is not amongst the most common surnames and seems more dispersed. In Ireland, it still exists but isn’t highly widespread. Therefore, it's difficult to pinpoint a specific region where the name MacKeon is exceptionally common today.
Variations of the surname MacKeon
The surname MacKeon originates from Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Eoghain" which translates to "son of Eoghan". Over time and due to anglicization, the spelling and pronunciation of the original Irish name have changed resulting in several variations.
Key variants of this surname include McKeon, McKean, McKeown, Mackeon, Mackown, Mackean, McEwan, and McEwen. These may be pronounced differently in the varying areas of Ireland and Scotland where the surnames were prominent.
The continued dispersion of Irish people to other English-speaking countries has also resulted in further variations of the surname through English phonetic spellings and abbreviations, examples of which include MacKane, McKone, Mckean, McKeen, McKeone, MacKeown, and MacKewan.
Furthermore, the surname O'Keon, derived from "O Eoghain", shares the same origin as MacKeon. Similarly, anglicized variations and abbreviations of this surname such as Egan, Keon, Kean, Keane, and Keen are also related.
Outright, these various spellings and variations highlight the common challenges faced by genealogists - tracing family history could mean encountering any number of these connected surnames.
Famous people with the name MacKeon
- John Mackeon: Irish Fine Gael politician and former Minister for Training and Skills from 2007–2011.
- Lachlan Mackeon: Australian actor and singer who is best known for his role as Mac Mackenzie on the television show Home & Away.
- Emer Mackeon: Irish radio presenter and actor who has been on various RTÉ radio programmes.
- Graham MacKeon: British actor and writer known for his appearances on Casualty and other UK television shows.
- Agnes Mackeon: American model and actress whose credits include Drake Bell (Triton in Insomniac) and Living the Dream (as Mrs. Nefertiti).
- Julie MacKeon: American author and lecturer who has written four books about family, parenting, and relationships.
- Fred MacKeon: Canadian Olympic silver medalist in shooting at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
- Fergal MacKeon: Irish singer and songwriter who co-wrote songs like "Black Velvet Band", which has been covered by artists like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and The Pogues.
- Meghan MacKeon: American actress who has starred in movies such as Wild Child (2008) and Sleepers (2011).
- David MacKeon: Australian cricketer who played for New South Wales and Australia.