Surname McKen - Meaning and Origin

McKen: What does the surname McKen mean?

The last name McKen is of Scottish origin and is a derivative of the first name Kenneth. The "Mc" prefix means "son of", so McKen can be interpreted in its entirety as "son of Kenneth". The name Kenneth itself is of Gaelic origin, and is a version of two Gaelic names - 'Cainnech', meaning 'handsome' and 'Cináed', meaning 'born of fire'. Therefore, last name McKen may carry these inferred meanings from the first name Kenneth. It is worth noting that variations and spellings of Scottish surnames can often change over time and location. Names can be anglicized or be adapted according to regional dialects. The surname McKen may have several variants such as MacKen, Macken, McKenna, and others. Some bearers of the surname might trace their ancestry to Scotland, and it represents a cultural link to Scottish heritage.

McKen: Where does the name McKen come from?

The last name McKen is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name “MacEan”, which means “son of Ian”. Ian is the Scottish form of John, and as such, the surname McKen could be interpreted as "son of John." Scottish surnames typically include prefixes like "Mac" or "Mc", both meaning "son of", to denote filiation. Many Scottish and Irish surnames started this way, as a way to keep track of lineage and inheritance. While it’s hard to say definitively where the surname is most common today, historically, the McKens, like many Scots, would have emigrated to different parts of the world due to economic, social, or political circumstances. Therefore, you can find holders of the McKen surname in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and throughout the British Commonwealth including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Variations of the surname McKen

The surname McKen is of Scottish origin and comes from the Gaelic surname MacEanruig, which means "son of Eanruig". Variants of the surname McKen include McKean, Mckain, Mckeen, Mckane, Mcken, Mckain, Mckeane, Mckan, McKeon, McKune, MacKeen, MacKean, MacKain, MacKan and MacKane. Also, similar surnames that could be another form of McKen are MacIan, McIan, MacKean, McKean, Mackonochie, Mackindlay, Mackaness, McKendrick, McKindlay, MacKenny, McKenny, Ken, Kenny, Kenney, and McKenn. Others are McKeown, McEwen, McKeever, and Mckinnon, which can also be similar derivations of the Gaelic surname, MacEanruig. These different variations of the surname McKen may have resulted from transcription errors, regional dialect and accents, or slight changes in the surname's spelling over generations. As for the surname McKen, it is also important to consider that the prefix 'Mc' means "son of," as does 'Mac'; thus, surnames starting with these could be connected in origin. In tracking genealogical roots, one may consider all these surnames to find familial connections.

Famous people with the name McKen

• Cheri McKen: singer/songwriter from New Zealand
• Annie McKen: English actress
• Christopher McKen: Canadian curator
• John McKen: Scottish author and former editor of The Scotsman
• Katherine McKen: American composer and theatrical artist
• Louis McKen: British artist
• Finn McKen: Canadian actor and musician
• Michael McKen: American professional wrestler
• Simon McKen: Retired senior lecturer in Asian Studies from the University of Auckland
• Sharron McKen: British actress, writer and producer

Other surnames

McKealeMcKeamyMcKeanMcKeandMcKeaneMcKechnieMcKeeMcKeeganMcKeehanMcKeemanMcKeenMcKeeverMcKegneyMcKellMcKellarMcKellerMcKelveyMcKelvieMcKelvyMcKemanMcKemieMcKemmieMcKemyMcKendallMcKendellMcKendrickMcKendrieMcKendryMcKennaMcKenney