O'Coinn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of O'Coinn

What does the name O'Coinn mean?

Irish names tend to vary widely in their spelling and overall form. The original Gaelic form of the name O'Coinn is "O Cadhain," from the word "cadhan," which means wild goose. Kilcoyne, commonly seen as an alias of Coyne, is a patronymic name derived from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Chaoine, denoting the son of a devotee of St. Caoin. Coen is also often the Anglicized version of the Gaelic name "O Comhdhain."

Early Origins of the O'Coinn family

The surname O'Coinn was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), and Leinster. The name became confused with Coen, Kyne, and Kilcoyne, all of which have derived from it, or have been the origin of Coyne. The ancient Coens, descended from the Gaelic Caomhan, the Chief of his clann in 876 A.D. who was descended from the Princes of Hy Fiachra, and the great General King Niall of the Nine Hostages.

Early History of the O'Coinn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Coinn research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1803, 1839, 1868 and 1891 are included under the topic Early O'Coinn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Coinn Spelling Variations

The Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames were not rigidly fixed by this period. The following variations for the name O'Coinn were encountered in the archives: Coyne, Coen, Cohen, Kyne, Kilcoyne, Coyney, Koyne, Koen, Kohen, M'Coyne, Coyn, Coin, Coine, Koin, Koine, Barnacle (a synonym of Coyne by translation), Barnicle, Barnycle, Barnackle, Barnicall, Barnickle and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Coinn family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Coinn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the O'Coinn family

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 O'Coinn name: John Adam Barnacle who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1772; Patrick Coyne settled in Philadelphia in 1813; John, Joseph, Lawrence, Michael, Patrick, Peter, Thaddeus, Thomas, and William Coyne, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1850 and 1870.