Surname Keighin - Meaning and Origin
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Keighin: What does the surname Keighin mean?
The last name Keighin is an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic “Mac Aodhghain”, meaning “son of Aodhagáin”. Aodhagáin is an Irish name, meaning “handsome” or “fire”, and is derived from the Gaelic elements “aodh”, meaning “fire” or “ardor”, combined with “gan”, meaning “handsome”. Therefore, the surname Keighin translates into “son of the handsome one” or “son of fire”.
The Keighin family is thought to descend from medieval Irish lords, who established their territories in parts of modern-day County Cork, County Down and County Fermanagh. The family was also influential politically during this period, with the O’Keen arts family being one of the first to recognize the authority of the O’Donnell dynasty in the 13th century.
Keighin is a rare surname, and it is thought to be relatively uncontaminated by other surnames. As such, those with the name can trace their ancestry back to the prominent Irish clan, the O’Keen arts, with relative certainty.
It is also believed that the Keighin surname is associated with the “Mac” prefix, which became prominent in Ireland in the 17th century, as a reflection of the many clans, septs and tribes which inhabited the land during this time. It is thought that the surname was likely prompted by the Gaelic “Mac Aodhghain”, which translates to “son of Aodhagáin”.
Order DNA origin analysisKeighin: Where does the name Keighin come from?
The last name Keighin is most commonly found in the United States and Canada, particularly in the Northeastern and Midwest regions. It is also known in countries such as Ireland, England, France, and Germany.
The majority of Americans with Keighin ancestry have roots in Ireland, where the name was first recorded in County Limerick in 1690. From there, it spread out to other parts of the country, before immigrating to the United States during the two great waves of Irish immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Among those American families known to carry the Keighin surname today, the largest concentrations can be found in Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, Illinois, and California.
The Keighin surname is a unique one that helps to provide a family history into the lives of generations past. It is a reminder of the hard work, bravery, and determination of those dedicated people who sought a better life in America. Although the name is not overly common, it is a testament to the family’s commitment to building a better future.
Variations of the surname Keighin
Keighin is an Irish surname that is derived from the Gaelic Irish surname "O'Eifionn" or "Ó hEighnigh". The variants which are more commonly seen for this surname are Keighley, Keighleye, Keighly, and Keighlyn. However, other lesser used variants have been known to exist which includes Keighean, Keighen, Keighan, Kighin, and Kighley.
The surname Keighin is a form of the ancient Irish surname O'Eifionn. It is an Anglicized version of the older Gaelic name, with "O'", meaning "son of", being dropped. The ancestor of the surname is believed to be Eifionn, who was a chieftain of the region in Ireland known as Feara Maighe which is now County Westmeath. The name itself means "lord of the wine" and was used to denote a man of strength or of hardiness.
The variant spellings like Keighley, Keighleye, Keighly, and Keighlyn all come from the same source and thus are all essentially the same name. Variations of this name may also be seen that are slightly different than the traditional spelling such as Keighean, Keighen, Keighan, Kighin, and Kighley. In some cases, the surname has evolved to completely different names such as Keigher, which is derived from the Irish "Mac Eighre".
The Keighin surname is most commonly found in counties located around the Irish Midlands such as Westmeath, Tipperary, and Longford. It is a relatively common surname in these areas and is frequently encountered by researchers when looking through records for families from these counties.
Famous people with the name Keighin
- Steven Keighin: Actor known for his roles on Almost Royal and Hollyoaks.
- David Keighin: British television producer who is known for his works on Hollyoaks, Doctors and Family Affairs.
- Patrick Keighin: Former NFL quarterback who played for the Cleveland Browns from 1997 to 2000.
- Sean Keighin: American actor who is perhaps best known for his television roles on themes such as My So-Called Life, Chicago Hope and ER.
- John Keighin: British actor who starred in British TV series such as the News Hounds and Coronation Street.
- Paul Keighin: British actor who has appeared in films such as Night Watch, Rocky Horror Picture Show and The League of Gentlemen.
- Ram Keighin: Indian filmmaker and actor who is best known for his work on Hindi films such as Dil Se, Khamoshi and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
- Robert Keighin: English actor who has had roles in TV series such as Heartbeat and Emmerdale.
- Brendan Keighin: Irish actor and writer who has appeared in films such as The Departed, American Gangster and Brooklyn's Finest.
- Peter Keighin: Award-winning voice actor from England who is best known for lending his voice to animated films such as The Secret of NIMH and Smallfoot.