Surname McKeehan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McKeehan: What does the surname McKeehan mean?
The surname McKeehan is of Scottish and Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eoghain," meaning "son of Eoghain." Eoghain is thought to be linked to the Greek name "Eugenios," translating to "well-born" or "noble." So, McKeehan is often considered to mean "son of the noble one".
Over time, the pronunciation and spelling have altered, leading to a range of similar surnames including MacKeon, MacKewan, MacKoun, and MacKane. Also, the interpretation can vary based on regional dialects and family tradition. Many families with this surname can be found in Scotland and Ireland, especially in areas like County Tyrone in Northern Ireland and the Western Isles in Scotland, showing a historical link to those areas.
It's important to remember that last names were often given based on a prominent attribute, occupation, location, or family relation and then passed down through generations. So while this provides a general interpretation of the name McKeehan, the specific meaning could differ among families.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKeehan: Where does the name McKeehan come from?
The surname McKeehan is of Scottish and Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Eoghainn meaning "son of Eoghan". "Eoghan" is an old Irish name with elements meaning "born of the yew tree". The spelling variations of this surname include MacEwan, MacEwen, MacKewin, MacKewan, MacEòghainn, and others.
The name McKeehan was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), in the Scottish Highlands region, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. But due to high rates of Scottish emigration during the 18th and 19th centuries caused by political unrest and economic hardship, the name spread to other parts of the world such as North America and Australasia.
Today, McKeehan is most common in the United States, particularly in Texas, California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. It also has a smaller presence in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Despite its origins, it is much less common in modern-day Scotland and Ireland.
Variations of the surname McKeehan
The surname McKeehan is predominantly Scottish and Irish in origin and is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eoghain" meaning "son of Eoghan." There are numerous variants and spellings of the surname due to the way Gaelic names were anglicized, and the impact of regional dialects.
Variants include McKean, McKeown, McKewan, MacKeon, and McKeon. It may also be found spelled as McKeen, McKeane, McKown and McKone. Some versions have simplified to MacKane, MacKean, MacEwen, or Ewen in Scotland and Keon or Kean in Ireland.
In some cases, the surname might have mutated further into Owen or even into Eugene in its English form. It may also lose the Mac/Mc prefix altogether to transform into Keon, Keane, Kane, Kean, Ewen or Ewan.
Older Gaelic forms of the name, like MacEoin, could also be anglicized directly into Johnson (from "Mac Eoin" meaning "Son of John").
As McCune, McEwan, Egan, and Eoghan are variants of the same Gaelic original, these surnames may potentially connect to McKeehan as well. However, tracing such a lineage would likely require detailed genealogical research.
Famous people with the name McKeehan
- TobyMac (Toby McKeehan/Tobias “TobyMac” McKeehan): Grammy Award winning Christian hip-hop recording artist, producer, and songwriter
- Matt & Toby McKeehan: Nashville-based country music duo made up of brothers Matt and Toby McKeehan
- Scott McKeehan: Actor, cinematographer, producer, and writer
- Bart McKeehan: Producer and sound engineer
- Kris McKeehan: Christian contemporary singer, songwriter, and author
- Victoria McKeehan: Author of the dystopian young adult novel, The Key to Everything
- Michael McKeehan: Grammy-nominated American singer, songwriter, producer, and musician
- Hal McKeehan: Canadian Football League player and head coach
- Greg McKeehan: Professional golfer
- Sean McKeehan: Playwright and actor
- Brian McKeehan: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racer
- Lorrie McKeehan: Basketball coach and successful high school girls basketball coach