Show ContentsKiene History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Kiene is a very old Scottish name that may even date back to the Dalriadan tribe of Scotland's western coast and Hebrides islands. It comes from the given name Ian or John. John is the most common personal name in the Highlands. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Iain.

Early Origins of the Kiene family

The surname Kiene was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Kiene family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kiene research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1292, 1340, 1618, 1667, 1717, 1777, 1808, 1875 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kiene History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kiene Spelling Variations

Spelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. Kiene has been spelled MacIan, MacAne, MacKane, MacKean, MacKain and others.

Early Notables of the Kiene family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Archibald McKain (1717-1777), Scottish Shoemaker and Burgess of Elgin, Morayshire, who became the 15th Chief of MacIain of Ardnamurchan. Also of note was Thomas M'kean of Delaware, one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence.John Canne (d. 1667?)...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kiene Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Kiene family to Ireland

Some of the Kiene family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Kiene migration to the United States +

Numerous Scottish settlers settled along the east coast of the colonies that would become the United States and Canada. Others traveled to the open country of the west. At the time of the American War of Independence, some remained in the United States, while those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The highland games and Clan societies that sprang up across North America in the 20th century have helped many Scots to recover parts of their lost traditions. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Kienes to arrive in North America:

Kiene Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Kiene, who arrived in Illinois in 1839 1
  • Paul Kiene, who landed in Iowa in 1849 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Kiene (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Kiene, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 2008 2
  • Betty Kiene, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 2008 2


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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