Surname Keelaghan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Keelaghan: What does the surname Keelaghan mean?
The surname Keelaghan is believed to have originated in County Donegal in Ireland. It is an anglicized variant of the Gaelic surname Ó Caolagáin. It is derived from two Irish Gaelic words, “caol” which means “slender” and “agán” which means “little rock” or “little hill”.
The name is believed to have originated from a place near the village of Glenties, in the north-west of Ireland. There was an old fortification in the area, built by the Ó Caolagáin family in the 11th century. The recorded history of the family began at this time.
The Keelaghans were the original keepers of the fortification, with some branches of the family changing it to become landlords of nearby lands. The Keelaghans eventually moved away from the area and can now be found throughout the world.
Today, the Keelaghans are a diverse group of people, simply united by their shared Irish history and roots. Whether they still live in Ireland or have created a new life in other parts of the world, the Keelaghans bear a powerful legacy that upholds their traditions and connects them with their past.
Order DNA origin analysisKeelaghan: Where does the name Keelaghan come from?
The last name Keelaghan is a rare Irish surname most commonly found in Ireland, where it originated. It is also found in other parts of the world, as Keelaghans have emigrated over the centuries.
In Ireland, the surname is mainly concentrated in County Monaghan, in the Ulster province. The Keelaghan surname first appeared in the tax records of the area in the year 1597. Many later Keelaghans were descended from the earlier Scottish-Irish settlers (known as the Planters) of the area.
Today, many Keelaghans live in other parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, there are many Keelaghan descendants in large cities like New York City, Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco.
In Canada, particularly in Toronto, there are also many Keelaghan descendants. According to the Canadian Census, in 2016, there were over 2,000 people with the last name Keelaghan living in Canada.
Overall, the Keelaghan surname is more common today than it was in the past, due to the diaspora of Irish Keelaghans over the centuries. Despite this, it is still a rare name, particularly outside of Ireland.
Variations of the surname Keelaghan
Keelaghan is a surname derived from the Irish surname Ó Caoilghain, meaning "descendant of Caoilghenn." The origins of the Ó Caoilghain family have been traced to the 12th century in County Clare, where they served as part of the ruling family of Uí Cinnsealaigh. Variants of the name Keelaghan include Keelaghan, O'Keelaghan, Keelan, and O'Kealaghan. The Keelaghan name is most commonly found in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In Ireland, variants of the surname include Keelaghan, Keelan, and Ó Caoilghain. In England, the variants are O'Keelaghan and O'Keelan. Other variations include Keelaghaun and Keelaghan, with the latter spelling being the most common variation in England.
In the United States, the surname can be found spelled as Keelaghan, Keelan, Kealan, Keelin, Cealan, Kialan, Keelan, Kieghan, and O'Keelan. Other spellings in the United States include Keeling and Keelangham.
Some other variations of the surname include O'Cealaghan, Kealagha, and Kealaghan. In some cases, the surname has also been found spelled as Kilgahan, Killohagan, Kyalaghan, and Kylaghan.
Famous people with the name Keelaghan
- Cathy Keelaghan: Scottish fiddle player and composer
- Tim Keelaghan: Canadian singer and songwriter
- Oisin Keelaghan: Irish folk music performer
- Rohan Keelaghan: Australian musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist
- Steve Keelaghan: American singer-songwriter and record producer
- Liz Keelaghan: Irish television presenter, producer, and radio DJ
- Emma Keelaghan: English journalist and critic
- Makem & Clancy (Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy), two well-known folk musicians who were collectively known as The Keelaghan Brothers
- Michael Keelaghan: British artist, illustrator and photographer
- John Keelaghan: American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer and author