O'Kane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname O'Kane is an old Irish name that originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Cathain or Mac Cathain. This may be related to the ancient name Cahane, which signifies "Beloved." More likely, the surname came from the name Catháin, made up of the Gaelic "cath," or "battle;" and "án," or "one who;" thus the name referred to "the fighting one."
Early Origins of the O'Kane family
The surname O'Kane was first found in County Londonderry (Irish: Doire), a Northern Irish county also known as Derry, in the province of Ulster. There were two great septs of Ó Catháin, which were apparently quite distinct: Kane (O'Kane) in Ulster, and Keane in Munster and Connacht. A Gaelic family O'Kane emerged in County of Derry: these were the O'Kanes of Keenaght and Coleraine. The founder of this family, is said to be "Eogan," ancestor of the northern Hy Nials, and son of the Nine Hostages, King of Ireland, A.D. 379. The O'Cathain's came into prominence again in the twelfth century (they appear in the Annals of the Four Masters from 1170 onwards) and were next in command to the O'Neill Chieftans of Ulster. There is historical evidence that Dungiven Priory is the tomb of "Cooey-na-Gal O'Cahan," who died in 1385. They also possessed part of Antrim, ruling from the Castle of Dunseverick, which they held from circa 1000 AD to circa 1320 AD, regaining it again in the mid 1500s. The ruins of Dunseverick still remain.
Early History of the O'Kane family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Kane research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1196, 1617 and 1875 are included under the topic Early O'Kane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
O'Kane Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Kane, Kayne, O'Kane, Cain, O'Cain and others.
Early Notables of the O'Kane family
Prominent amongst the family at this time was
- Echlin O'Kane, one of the most famous of all Irish Harpists, as well as Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop of New York in 1875
O'Kane Ranking
In the United States, the name O'Kane is the 11,176th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
O'Kane 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:
O'Kane Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Mr. Patrick O'Kane, (b. 1850), aged 23, Scottish farm labourer travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Wild Deer" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th March 1874 2
- Mrs. Mary O'Kane, (b. 1851), aged 22, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Wild Deer" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th March 1874 2
- Miss Grace O'Kane, (b. 1873), aged 6 months, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Wild Deer" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th March 1874 2
- Mr. John O'Kane, (b. 1823), aged 50, Scottish farm labourer travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Wild Deer" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th March 1874 2
- Mrs. Bridget O'Kane, (b. 1826), aged 47, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Wild Deer" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th March 1874 2
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name O'Kane (post 1700) +
- Rear Admiral Richard Hetherington O'Kane (1911-1994), American United States Navy submarine commander in World War II, who received a Medal of Honor, eponym of the USS O'Kane (DDG-77), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer 3
- Gerard O'Kane (b. 1984), Irish Gaelic footballer
- Ms. Geraldine Ann O'Kane B.E.M., British recipient of the British Empire Medal on 8th June 2018, for services to Peace Building and to Community Development in Whitewell, Northern Ireland
- Jake O’Kane, Irish stand-up comedian
- Gerard O'Kane (b. 1984), Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Derry (2005-)
- Deirdre O'Kane (b. 1970), Irish stand-up comedian and actress
- Damien O'Kane (b. 1978), Northern Irish musician from Coleraine
- Sean O'Kane (b. 1964), Scottish actor from Cambuslang, Glasgow
- John Andrew O'Kane (b. 1974), English former professional footballer from Nottingham
- Gary O'Kane (b. 1970), Irish retired sportsperson who played hurling for Antrim (1998-2000)
- ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Citations +