Keven History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Keven

What does the name Keven mean?

The west coast of Scotland and the rocky Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the Keven family. The root of their name is the personal name Ewen. The Gaelic form of the name was Mac Eoghainn.

Early Origins of the Keven family

The surname Keven 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 were first found in the barony of Otter, on the shores of Loch Fyne. The eponymous ancestor of the Clan is reputed to be Eoghain na h-Oitrich, also known as 'Ewen of Otter', who lived at the beginning of the 12th century. Clear records of the Clan were found in 1219, when Gilpatrik Mac Ewen measured the borders of his lands in Kynblathmund.

Early History of the Keven family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keven research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1174 and 1219 are included under the topic Early Keven History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keven Spelling Variations

Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. Keven has appeared in various documents spelled MacEwen, MacEwan, MacEwing, MacEuen, MacKewin, MacKewan, MacEòghainn (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the Keven family

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

Migration of the Keven family

Ancestors of many of the Dalriadan families who crossed the Atlantic still live along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Some Scottish settlers arrived in Canada during the American War of Independence as United Empire Loyalists, while others stayed south to fight for a new nation. The descendants of Scottish settlers in both countries began to rediscover their heritage in the 19th and 20th centuries through Clan societies and highland games. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Keven or a variant listed above: Archibald MacEuen settled in New York State with his wife Janet and children in 1739; Merran MacEuen settled in New York in 1739 with his wife and daughter.

Contemporary Notables of the name Keven (post 1700) +

Conrad Keven Chase (1965-2024), American actor, singer-songwriter and public speaker
Ronald Keven Oxenham (1891-1939), Australian cricketer
Keven Alexander McKenna (1944-2022), American lawyer and politician who served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1979 to 1985

The Keven 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: Reviresco
Motto Translation: I grow green