Contents [hide]

Keane History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Sources

Keane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Keane

What does the name Keane mean?

The surname Keane originally appeared in Gaelic as "O Cathain" or "Mac Cathain."

Early Origins of the Keane family

The surname Keane was first found in County Londonderry (Irish: Doire), a Northern Irish county also known as Derry, in the province of Ulster. At one time, the areas was named O'Cahan Country.

Early History of the Keane family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keane research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1196, 1617, 1631, 1641, 1644, 1680, 1697, 1709, 1714, 1730, 1754, 1757, 1781 and 1819 are included under the topic Early Keane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keane Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Keane were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Keane, Kane, Kayne, Keaney, Keny, Keyne, O'Kane, O'Keane, O'Cahan, Cahan, Kean, O'Cain, McCloskey, McCluskey, McClaskey and many more.

Early Notables of the Keane family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was Ruaidri Dall Ó Catháin (fl. late 16th/early 17th century), an Irish harper and composer; and Echlin O'Kane, one of the most famous of all Irish Harpists. Manus O'Cahan's Regiment of Foot was a body of soldiers, many of who had fought in Europe in the early years of the Thirty Years War. McColla, and a cousin by marriage, Manus O'Cahan, were thrown together in a joint Catholic-Protestant Scots-Irish peace keeping force in 1641. In one Ulster battle, McColla was badly wounded. O'Cahan personally dragged his giant 7-foot-tall (2.1 m) friend...
Another 98 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Keane Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keane World Ranking

In the United States, the name Keane is the 4,090^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in Australia, the name Keane is ranked the 681^st most popular surname with an estimated 5,759 people with that name. 2 And in New Zealand, the name Keane is the 893^rd popular surname with an estimated 821 people with that name. 3

Keane migration to the United States +

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Keane family relocated to North American shores quite early:

Keane Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Martin, Michael, Patrick, and William Keane all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870

Keane migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Keane Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Ann Keane, aged 8 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Marinus" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In October 1847 4
Mrs. Bridget Keane, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Sarah" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 4
Mrs. Bridget Keane, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Merinos" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 4
Mr. Christopher Keane, aged 4 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Marinus" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In September 1847 4
Mr. Edward Keane, aged 1 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Blonde" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle In July 1847 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keane migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Keane Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. John Keane, (Kane), (b. 1768), aged 25, Irish convict who was convicted in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5

Keane Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Andrew Keane, (b. 1762), aged 39, Irish convict who was convicted in Kilkenny, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. Patrick Keane, (Kane), (b. 1784), aged 25, Irish convict who was convicted in Waterford, Ireland for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Boyd" on 10th March 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1824 7
Bernard Keane, a gardener, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mr. Michael Keane, (b. 1809), aged 19, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fergusson" on 16th November 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he was executed in 1833 8
Mr. Martin Keane, (b. 1811), aged 20, Irish shoe maker who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 16th August 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keane migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Keane Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Ellen Keane, aged 26, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 10
Margaret Keane, aged 17, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1874
Mr. Joseph John Keane, (b. 1854), aged 21, Cornish farm labourer departing on 30th June 1875 aboard the ship "Merope" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 22nd September 1875 11
Mr. Joseph John Keane, (b. 1854), aged 21, Cornish farm labourer departing on 30th June 1875 aboard the ship "Merope" going to Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand arriving in port on 22nd September 1875 12
Mary Keane, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alumbagh" in 1875 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Keane (post 1700) +

Margaret D. H. Keane (1927-2022), born Peggy Doris Hawkins, an American artist known for her paintings of subjects with big eyes, typically paintings of women, children, or animals in oil or mixed media, sometimes referred to as the "Wayne Newton of the art world."
Anthony Keane (1928-2016), American fencer who competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Peter Keane, American blues/folk musician
Jim Keane, American politician, Democratic Party member of the Montana Senate
James Patrick "Jim" Keane (1924-2011), professional American NFL football end
James John Keane (1857-1929), American archbishop of the Catholic Church
Glen Keane (b. 1954), American Annie Award winning animator, best known for his character animation at Walt Disney Studios for feature films including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, and Tangled
Bob Keane (1922-2009), American musician, producer and owner of the record label Del-Fi Records, producer and manager of Ritchie Valens
William "Bill" Aloysius Keane (1922-2011), American cartoonist of The Family Circus
Edward Keane (1884-1959), American actor of the '30s and '40s
... (Another 38 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Keane family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Walter John Keane (1909-1941), Australian Chief Ordnance Artificer from Preston, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 13

RMS Titanic

Mr. Andrew "Andy" Keane (d. 1912), aged 23, Irish Third Class passenger from Athenry, Galway who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 14
Mr. Daniel Keane (d. 1912), aged 35, Irish Second Class passenger from Limerick, Ireland who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 14
Miss Nora Agnes Keane, aged 46, Irish Second Class passenger from Castleconnell, Limerick who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 10 14

The Keane Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Felis demulcta mitis
Motto Translation: A stroked cat is gentle.

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 36)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Boyd
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fergusson
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html