Surname Kevane - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kevane: What does the surname Kevane mean?
The surname Kevane is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Caoimhán", which translates to "kind" or "gentle". This could have therefore initially been a nickname for a gentle or kind person. This name was anglicized to "Kevan" or "Kevin" and variously transformed into different surnames, including Kevane. Like many Irish surnames, it may also indicate a geographical origin or a specific ancestry, though any specific location or clan associated with the name Kevane is not mentioned in the standard references. Variations of the surname include Keaveney, Kevany, and Keavney, among others. Please note that the meanings of surnames are often subject to historical interpretations and there may be multiple possible origins and meanings associated with any one name.
Order DNA origin analysisKevane: Where does the name Kevane come from?
The surname Kevane is of Irish origin and it is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Ceannfhionn" which means 'fair-headed'. This surname has several variations including Keaveny, Kevany, Geaveny, Givney, and more. The Kevane family lived in County Galway in Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Today, it is not particularly common anywhere, with only few bearers of the surname scattered across the globe. Despite its low prevalence, it can often be found in countries with a significant Irish diaspora such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Individuals with the Kevane surname are likely to have Irish lineage dating back several generations. However, the exact number of people who carry the Kevane surname today is hard to determine due to the constant flux in population statistics.
Variations of the surname Kevane
The surname Kevane is of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name "O Caoimhain" or "Mac Caoimhín", which means "son or descendant of Caoimhín," a personal name deriving from the words "caomh," meaning "gentle" or "kind," and "-ín," a diminutive suffix.
The surname has multiple variations and alternate spellings as a result of phonetic transliterations from Gaelic into English. Some of these variants include Kevan, Keaven, Keavney, Kevany, Keavan, Kevney, Kevanny, and Keaveny.
Surnames that are possibly relationally connected due to shared etymological roots include names based on "Caoimhín" such as Kevin, Kevyn, and Kevan.
Some other related surnames that have "caoimh" as the root word are O'Keevan, MacKeevan, O'Keavan, MacKeaven, and their variations.
As with many Irish surnames, several generations back they often included a prefix. In this case, "O" or "Mac," indicating "son of" or "descendant of," were prefixed to the base name, hence O'Kevane or MacKevane could possibly be older forms of the surname.
However, it must be noted that surname origins can be complex and these possible variants and connections might not apply in all cases.
Famous people with the name Kevane
- Sean Kevane: Actor and comedian known for his role in the NBC comedy TV series Sullivan & Son.
- Mike Kevane: Professor of Economics at Santa Clara University.
- Tom Kevane: Entrepreneur and investor best known for his investment in healthcare technology and AI.
- Mary Ann Kevane: American artist and teacher at the San Francisco Art Institute.
- Sonny Kevane: Singer-songwriter and producer with credits on projects for major labels like Universal.
- Chris Kevane: Former professional hockey player who played for The Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks.
- John Kevane: Former mayor of Santa Cruz, California and author of the book Stumbling Towards Justice.
- Glynn Kevane: Founder and former CEO of the software development company Altostorm.
- Charlie Kevane: Hollywood actor and director who has appeared in TV shows such as 24 and Bones.
- Robert Kevane: Serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist who has investments in several tech startups.