Keehn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Keehn

What does the name Keehn mean?

In the mountains of Scotland's west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the Keehn family were born. Their name 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 Keehn family

The surname Keehn 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 Keehn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keehn 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 Keehn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keehn Spelling Variations

In various documents Keehn has been spelled Since medieval scribes still spelled according to sound, records from that era contain an enormous number of spelling variations. MacIan, MacAne, MacKane, MacKean, MacKain and others.

Early Notables of the Keehn family

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?), was an English divine and printer and "may...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Keehn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Keehn family to Ireland

Some of the Keehn 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.

Migration of the Keehn family

The descendants of the Dalriadan families who made the great crossing of the Atlantic still dot communities along the east coast of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many of the settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Clan societies and highland games have allowed Canadian and American families of Scottish descent to recover much of their lost heritage. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name Keehn or a variant listed above include: John MacKane settled in Carolina in 1806; Alexander, John, Peter, Thomas MacKane all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; James MacKean settled in Carolina in 1767.

Contemporary Notables of the name Keehn (post 1700) +

Lieutenant-General Roy Dee Keehn (1877-1949), American Commanding General 33rd Division (1927-1940) 1

The Keehn 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: In hope I byde

Sources +

Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Roy Keehn. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Keehn/Roy_Dee/USA.html