The Keane Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Keane, its origins in Ireland, and the story behind a Keane family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Keane coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Keane name
Keane is the usual Munster and Connacht spelling of Ó Catháin, "descendant of Cathán", a name from cath, "battle"; in Ulster the same Irish name is written Kane or O'Kane. Families of the name were established in County Clare and County Galway, and Keane is still most common in Clare, Galway and Kerry. It is also widespread among the Irish in England and the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Keane name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Keane name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Keane family history
The complete Keane pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Keane name FAQ
What does the Keane name mean?
Descendant of Cathán ("battle"). Common variants include Kean, Kane, O'Keane.
Where does the Keane surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Keane coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Keane crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Keane coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).