MacKeown History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the MacKeown family in Ireland was Mac Eogain in Connacht, and Mac Eoin in east Ulster. Both of these names connote a "son of John," or "son of Owen." 1

Early Origins of the MacKeown family

The surname MacKeown was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where the first people to use this surname are thought to have originated. Soon thereafter, the name was also found in neighboring Leitrim.

Early History of the MacKeown family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacKeown research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacKeown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacKeown Spelling Variations

Many spelling variations of the surname MacKeown can be found in the archives. One reason for these variations is that ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in a single person being recorded under several different spellings. The different spellings that were found include Keon, MacKeon, MacKeown, MacKewan, MacKoun, MacWing, Hone, MacOwen, Mageown and many more.

Early Notables of the MacKeown family

More information is included under the topic Early MacKeown Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacKeown migration to the United States +

A great mass of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century, seeking relief from various forms of social, religious, and economic discrimination. This Irish exodus was primarily to North America. If the migrants survived the long ocean journey, many unfortunately would find more discrimination in the colonies of British North America and the fledgling United States of America. These newly arrived Irish were, however, wanted as a cheap source of labor for the many large agricultural and industrial projects that were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the western world. Early immigration and passenger lists indicate many people bearing the MacKeown name:

MacKeown Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Anne MacKeown, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 2
John, MacKeown Jr., who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 2
Margaret MacKeown, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 2
Mary MacKeown, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 2
Samuel MacKeown, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacKeown migration to Australia +

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

MacKeown Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Henry MacKeown, English Convict from Mold, who was transported aboard the "Aboukir" on December 24, 1851, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 3
James MacKeown, English Convict from Chester, who was transported aboard the "Aboukir" on December 24, 1851, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 3
Mr. Daniel MacKeown, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Belgravia" on 4th April 1866, arriving in Western Australia 4

MacKeown 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:

MacKeown Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mary MacKeown, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rangitikei" in 1884

Citations +

Moore, A.W., Manx Names. London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1906. Print
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)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 18) Aboukir voyage to Van Diemen's Land and Norfolk Island. [These convicts appear to have all landed in Van Diemen's Land], Australia in 1851 with 280 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/aboukir/1851
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/belgravia