Surname McKeown - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling Hidden Irish-Scottish Ties: An Odyssey into the McKeown Clan via iGENEA DNA Test

The iGENEA DNA test I undertook recently opened a new realm of discovery and fascination about my heritage, including the origins of my surname - McKeown. While expecting primarily English roots, I was taken aback to find associations with Celtic origin, the McMahon Irish clan, and even participation of my ancestors in historic battles like Bannockburn. Additionally, the surprising link to the O'Brien family of Ireland added further intrigue.

S. McKeown

McKeown: What does the surname McKeown mean?

The surname McKeown is of Irish origin, and it's an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Eoghain" which means "son of Eoghan". The name Eoghan is derived from the ancient Celtic word "Owen" or "Eugene", translating into "born of the yew tree", "youth" or “well-born”. As the name follows the typical Irish patronymic system, a bearer of the last name McKeown would be identified as the "son of Eoghan". The Irish clan associated with this name was initially based in Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Over the centuries, the name has been spelled in a variety of ways including McEwen, McCune, and McKewan, amongst others. This highlights the challenges of converting Gaelic sounds into English. As with many Irish surnames, bearers of the McKeown name can be found in many countries around the world, due to the widespread Irish diaspora.

McKeown: Where does the name McKeown come from?

The surname McKeown is of Irish origin, stemming from the Gaelic Mac Eoghain, which means 'son of Eoghan'. The name Eoghan has roots in the old Celtic term for 'born of the yew tree'. Traditionally, Irish clan names are derived from a mixture of territorial, occupational and personal identifiers, with the prefix 'Mac' indicating 'son of'.

The McKeown surname was particularly associated with the provinces of Ulster and Connacht, and more specifically with the counties of Tyrone and Derry. The McKeowns originally descended from the legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages, a 5th-century king of Tara renowned for his military conquests.

In modern times, the surname is most common in Northern Ireland and Scotland due to historical migrations, predominantly during the period known as the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century. There are also quite a few McKeowns in the United States and Canada as a result of the considerable emigration during the Great Famine of the 19th century.

Variations of the surname McKeown

The surname McKeown is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Eoghain," which means "son of Eoghan." Over time, many variations and spellings of this surname have been used due to regional dialects, translation between languages, and even spelling errors. These alternative spellings may include McKeon, McKewan, McKewon, McKown, Mckeone, McEwan, McEwen, McOwan, McOwen, MacEoin, and MacKeon, among others. In some cases, O'Keown or O'Keon may also be used, where the "O'" signifies a "descendant of." Different surnames of similar or the same origin may also include Owens, Ewen, Ewens, and McEwen. All these names share a similar meaning related to the Gaelic "Eoghan." The surname has many versions because, like many Irish names, it was written down by scribes in English from its phonetic pronunciation during the period when written Gaelic was uncommon. Each McKeown family branch may have their own variant depending on their specific family history and it's not uncommon to see multiple variants within the same immediate family over generations.

Famous people with the name McKeown

• Ann Louise McKeown: Actress and broadcaster
• Bill McKeown: Former American Major League Baseball player
• Brian McKeown: Former British professional football player
• George McKeown: Irish actor best known for the role of ‘Lemmy’ in theBBC television sitcom ‘Fawlty Towers’
• Jack McKeown: British Army Lieutenant General and former Chief Executive of the British Territorial Army
• Jim McKeown: Canadian former soccer player
• John McKeown: American former professional basketball player
• Lorraine McKeown: Former professional British female ice hockey player
• Murray McKeown: Former American National Football League player
• Patrick McKeown: Australian children’s television presenter
• Suzanne McKeown: Irish comedy writer nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Special Class
• Thomas McKeown: Former British Member of Parliament
• William Edward McKeown: Former Canadian politician and minister in the Canadian Senate
• William M. McKeown: American lawyer and Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
• Willie McKeown: Canadian former professional ice hockey player

Other surnames

McKeoanMcKeoghMcKeohaneMcKeoineMcKeonMcKeone