Surname O'Kean - Meaning and Origin

O'Kean: What does the surname O'Kean mean?

The surname O’Kean is generally believed to have originated from Irish and Scottish Gaelic roots, and is derived from the surname ‘O’Cathain’ – a form of the first name ‘Cahain’. The first name itself is ultimately of unknown origins, though it is thought to be rooted in the Latin phrase ‘Catholicus’, meaning ‘universal, all-embracing’. Historically, the name first popped up in north-west Ireland in the regions of Connacht and Ulster during the medieval era, though it was known by a number of different spellings (O’Kane, O’Keane, O’Keann, etc.). Later, variants of the name spread quickly throughout the British Isles with the onset of the Great Potato Famine, and today, some of the most well-known bearers of the surname include football legend Brian O’Keefe, poet John Eion O’Kean, and singer-songwriter Mary O’Kean. All in all, O’Kean is a noble heritage that carries with it the stubborn independence of an Irish warrior and the all-embracing wisdom of a ‘catholicus’.

O'Kean: Where does the name O'Kean come from?

The last name O'Kean is primarily found in Ireland today. It is believed to have originated in the region of Connacht. It is thought to be a version of the Irish surname Ó Ceathain which means descendant of Ceathain, a personal name derived from the Gaelic term for wolf cub.

The distribution of the surname shows that it is most commonly found around the counties of Mayo, Sligo, Galway and Roscommon. A public data base of people with this surname shows that the majority of O'Kean's are located in the Republic of Ireland, with a small but significant population scattered around England and the United States.

In the United Kingdom, the surname is especially dominant in Wales, especially around Nantgarw and Glamorgan. It is also widespread in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In the United States, O'Kean is a very common Irish surname found mainly in Northeastern states of Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, although there is also a large population in Southern states of Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.

The name O'Kean is still very much evident in Ireland, and it is enduring in its villages, communities and cities throughout the country. It often takes the spelling of K-E-A-N, rather than O'Kean, due to varying levels of literacy associated with the surname.

Variations of the surname O'Kean

The O’Kean family originated in Ireland. It is an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname O’Cadhain, and descendants of the original Keans can be found in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. The spelling of the name can also be found as O’Keen, Keehan, Keen or Kiehan.

The O’Kean family name can be traced back to the Gaelic Sept, Mac Giolla Cheidhain. The literal translation of the name is “son of the follower of (St.) Cadhan;” St. Cadhan being a priest active in the 8th century. According to records, the chiefs of the clan lived at Cregg, on the banks of the Inny river, and were chiefs of Dartrey in Fermanagh for many centuries.

O’Kean is also the anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó Ceann. This literally translates to English as “Grandson of a head” or “Son of a head.” Typically, the term ‘head’ represents a chieftain or someone of importance and influence. In this regard, there is a strong suggestion that O’Kean is a surname associated with men of noble lineage.

The O’Kean surname can also be found spelt differently in some areas of the world, such as Cean, Keyan, Kien, Keene, Keane or Quin. In some cases, they may be completely different surnames, however, in some cases, they can all come from the same origins.

In the United States, descendants of the O’Kean family are widely dispersed throughout the country. The most common anglicized spelling is Keane, although Keehan and O’Keen are still commonly found in the northeast of the country.

Famous people with the name O'Kean

• Andrew O’Kean: Australian rules football player
• Arran O’Kean: British actor
• Charles O’Kean: British artist
• Donal O’Kean: Irish language activist
• Erin O’Kean: American actress
• James O’Kean: British actor
• Joe O’Kean: English actor
• Kevin O’Kean: American basketball player
• Shane O’Kean: Irish Gaelic footballer
• Sean O’Kean: American basketball player
• Terry O’Kean: American cyclist
• Thomas O’Kean: Canadian flautist

Other surnames

O'Keane