Surname Skean - Meaning and Origin

Skean: What does the surname Skean mean?

The surname Skean is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic word "sgian," which translates to "knife" or "dagger." This last name is often associated with descendants of people who were skilled in using or making knives and daggers. Over time, the specific spelling of the surname has varied, which is common among names that were originally Gaelic. It's also likely that the name was given to a person who was very precise, sharp, and effective in their occupation or personality, akin to attributes of a knife. Beyond this, families with the Skean surname have been found in Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia, among other places globally.

Skean: Where does the name Skean come from?

The Skean surname is common in England, Scotland and Ireland today. It is believed to have originated in the area which is now northern England. During the 16th century, a number of emigrants carrying the Skean surname departed from England and Scotland to other parts of the world. These emigrants eventually settled in countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia, where the Skean surname is still present today.

The name usually appears as an English surname, and is also spelled Skeen, Skeans or Sleen. The explanation of the origin of this surname is derived from the Old English word ‘scea’, which refers to a man carrying a shield or coat of arms. The phrase 'sceapian' was later used as an anglicization of the word 'scea' and formed the basis of the name Skean.

The Skean surname is particularly common in Scotland, where it was first documented in 1238. There, the name was used for various different noble families. In more recent times, descendants of the original Skean family are still present in Scotland, as well as in England, Ireland, the United States, Canada and Australia.

Variations of the surname Skean

The surname Skean is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Irish surname O'Seaghain, meaning "descendant of Seaghan". In Irish Gaelic the name Seaghan is originally derived from the personal name Seachlann, which means “one who is like a fox”.

One of the most common variants of the Skean surname is Sweeny, an English surname which is derived from the Old English word swin meaning “small swine”. Other variants of the Sweeny surname include Swinny, Swinney, Swam, Swann, and Swannell.

Variants of Skean in Ireland include O'Shaughnessy, O'Shuigin, Saccone, Sheenan, Shanahan, Shaughnessy, Shinnin, Shouney, and Shynin. In Scotland, variants of the Skean surname include MacShan, MacShane, MacKains, and MacShanen.

In the United States, the spelling of the Skean surname has often been altered to the unintentionally humorous Skeins. Other variations of the Skean surname in the United States include Skains, Sheins, Shenks, and Shynk.

Given the frequently changing spellings and variants of the Skean surname both in Ireland and in other parts of the world, it is not always easy to track down family lineage and to determine its geographical origin. However, the fact remains that the Skean surname is derived from the ancient Irish Gaelic name O'Seaghain and its variants, and it is this origin that has been passed down through generations.

Famous people with the name Skean

• Gary Skean: an American actor and musician, known for films like Dogtown and Z-Boys and Grease 2.
• Karl Skean: an Australian cricketer who represented Victoria in Sheffield Shield cricket during the late 1980s.
• Maurice Skean: an Australian rules footballer who played for the South Fremantle Football Club during the 1940s.
• Tony Skean: a former American soccer player who played primarily as a defender. During his career, he won the 1980 NASL championship with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
• Brett Skean: an Australian Paralympic athlete who won a gold medal in the discus throw at the 2000 Summer Paralympic Games.
• Jesse Skean: an American mixed martial artist, holding a record of 2-2 as a professional.
• Isaac Skean: a Canadian ice hockey player who won the 2001 World Junior Championships gold medal with Team Canada.
• Steve Skean: a former NFL player who played as a defensive end for the Detroit Lions from 1974-1981.
• Ruben Skean: a French footballer who played as a midfielder. He spent most of his professional career in France's lower divisions.
• Luke Skean: an English footballer who currently plays as a defender for Solihull Moors.

Other surnames

Skeane