Keaveney

Keaveney is an Irish surname, which is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Géibheannaigh, meaning "descendant of Géibheannach".[1] Géibheannach means "fettered".[2] Alternative spellings include Keaveny, Keveney, Keavney, and Kiveney. Related names include Caveney, Kaney, Kevan, Kevany, Kenney, Kenny, Geaveny, Geany, Guiney and O'Guiney.

Background

The O Geibheannaigh sept came from County Galway. A sept or clan was a collective term describing a group of persons whose immediate ancestors bore a common surname and inhabited the same territory. This was a sept of the Uí Mháine (or "Hymany") descended from Geibhennach, son of Aedh, Chief of the Uí Mháine. Geibhennach was slain in battle in 971 at Keshcorran, County Sligo.[3]

The Uí Mháine chieftains ruled much of East Galway and South Roscommon. The Irish language meaning of Géibheannach is "hostage" or "captive" probably indicating that Aedh's son had been taken hostage by enemies at an earlier stage.

People

References
  1. Dictionary of American Family Names. "Keaveny Family History", Oxford University Press, 2013. Retrieved on 20 January 2016.
  2. Dictionary of American Family Names. "Guiney Family History", Oxford University Press, 2013. Retrieved on 20 January 2016.
  3. "The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, commonly called O'Kelly's Country".
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