Keane — The Ancient One

Keane most often anglicises one of two entirely separate names: Ó Catháin, lords of the Keenaght district on the Derry coast, or Ó Céin, from cian (‘ancient, long-standing’), held by unrelated families across Clare, Galway and Waterford.

One spelling now covers two histories that never once crossed paths — which root is yours comes down entirely to which county your family called home.

Irish form: Ó Catháin