Surname McKone - Meaning and Origin
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McKone: What does the surname McKone mean?
The surname McKone is of Irish origin, it's an anglicized form of the Gaelic name 'Mac Eoghain', which translates to 'son of Eoghan'. Eoghan is a personal name derived from the Greek name 'Eugenes', meaning 'well-born' or 'noble'. The prevalence of McKone as a surname is higher in Northern Ireland, especially in counties such as Londonderry. As with many surnames adopted from Gaelic names, McKone underwent numerous spelling variations over centuries, including McKeon, MacEoin, and others. The use of 'Mac' or ‘Mc’ prefixes signifies 'son of' in Gaelic, denoting ancestry or lineage. However, without a comprehensive genealogical record or family crest, it's challenging to point out a standardized historical or symbolic meaning attributed specifically to the surname McKone. In general, the use of surnames in Ireland stemmed from a method of distinguishing families or clans living in close proximity, especially helpful in times of land dispute, warfare, or legal matters. It was also a way to preserve connections with ancestral figures or occupations.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKone: Where does the name McKone come from?
The surname McKone is of Irish origin. It is derived from the ancient Gaelic Mac Eoghain, meaning "son of Eoghan." The personal name Eoghan is believed to come from the Celtic element "Owen" or "Eugene," which denotes a youth or a young warrior. The surname was first found in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, where the McKones were anciently seated as an important clan.
Today, the surname McKone has spread far beyond Ireland due to migration. It remains fairly common in Northern Ireland, particularly in places associated with the historical homeland of the surname. However, because of substantial Irish emigration during the 19th and 20th centuries, McKone is also traceable in Scotland, England, America, Canada, and Australia, where descendants of the Irish diaspora reside.
Overall, the McKone surname has greater prevalence in English-speaking countries because of these migration patterns, with the United States hosting a significant percentage of individuals with the McKone last name. The surname is still fairly rare, making it less widespread than some other Irish surnames. Nevertheless, you are more likely to encounter the McKone surname in these locations than elsewhere in the world.
Variations of the surname McKone
The surname McKone likely has its origins in Scotland or Ireland. It seems to be a variant of several different surnames, and there could be some debate about the most accurate original form. It is possibly derived from the Irish surname MacEoin, which translates to "son of John." Variations of this surname can include MacKeon, MacKean, Mackon, and McKeon.
The surname could also be derived from the Scottish surname MacCone or MacCoinn, which translates to "son of Kenneth." Variations can include MacKone, McKane, or McKean, among others.
The surname could also have been anglicized to different forms over time, leading to further variants such as McKeown, McKowan, or McKane. Lastly, in some cases, it could even be a variant of the surname McCune.
It is important to note that spelling variations of the same surname were incredibly common, especially before the 19th century. This is because literacy was not universal, and names were often recorded as they sounded to the person writing them down. Therefore, even within distance of a few miles, same surnames could have multiple versions.
As with all surname derivations, genealogical research is needed to trace a specific family's lineage and surname evolution.
Famous people with the name McKone
- Mike McKone: Comic book artist who is best known for illustrating the Marvel Comics titles Excalibur and Teen Titans.
- Matt McKone: Professional snowboarder from Denver, Colorado, United States of America.
- Joseph McKone: Canadian professional wrestler who has had a long career in the Canadian independent circuit.
- Nick McKone: Singer/songwriter from Oxford, United Kingdom.
- Michelle McKone: Canadian musician, best known for writing and performing the song ‘If My Heart Could Talk’.
- Kevin McKone: Former Chairman of the Board of Governance of Harvard University and current managing partner of the venture capital firm General Atlantic.
- Jonathan McKone: American race car driver who has competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series.
- Kieran McKone: Irish-born actor who has appeared on stage and screen in both the US and UK.
- Bob McKone: Retired American football player, having played offensive tackle in the NFL for four seasons.
- Ryan McKone: Professional Irish MMA fighter who currently competes in the featherweight division for Bellator MMA.