Surname Kaighn - Meaning and Origin
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Kaighn: What does the surname Kaighn mean?
The last name Kaighn is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the personal name Cain, which means “craftsman” or “spear” in Gaelic. It is believed to be an Anglicized form of the surname MacCoyne or MacCayne, which is a personal name of uncertain origins. The name may have originated from a combination of the Gaelic elements ‘caomh’ meaning ‘kind’, ‘carr’ meaning ‘rock’ and ‘eochair’ meaning ‘key’.
The surname Kaighn is most common in the southeastern region of Scotland, specifically in the counties of Aberdeenshire and Moray. It can also be found in Northern Ireland, especially in counties Antrim, Down and Fermanagh. The name is also present in America and Canada, where it is known to have arrived with immigrants from Scotland and Ireland in the 19th century.
In Scotland, Kaighn families would have been dispersed throughout both highland and lowland regions, although most likely in small numbers. Records of births, marriages and deaths of those with the surname Kaighn date as far back as the mid-1800’s.
Today, the surname Kaighn is quite rare and mainly found in the areas of Scotland and Northern Ireland from where it originated. It is also found in North America with many descendants of Scottish and Irish immigrants who arrived there in the 1800’s.
Order DNA origin analysisKaighn: Where does the name Kaighn come from?
The Kaighn surname is most commonly found in the United States. It is particularly associated with the Philadelphia area, particularly the suburbs of Camden and Gloucester Counties, New Jersey. The surname was also fairly common in Delaware during the early 20th century. Despite its apparent geographical association, there is no known single point of origin for the Kaighn surname. Nevertheless, it is thought to be of Irish or Scottish origin.
Kaighn is most likely derived from the old Gaelic name “MacCeannaigh” which is pronounced ”mac-KEN-ih”, and translates to “son of the fair one”. It dates back to an 11th century Gaelic lord, also known as Kenneth. Notable variants of the name include MacKenna, McKain, McKeon and MacKeon.
Though the surname Kaighn is clustered in the Northeast of the United States and was more prominent there during the early 20th century, the name can be found scattered around the United States. As of 2005, the United States Census recorded a total of 542 individuals with this surname.
In recent times, the Kaighn surname can be found in the Midwestern United States, especially in Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Illinois. The name has also spread to Canada, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe as the result of emigration.
Variations of the surname Kaighn
The surname Kaighn has many variant spellings, surnames of similar origin, and other similar-sounding surnames. Most of these variants are derived from Gaelic, Scottish, and Irish origins, reflecting the rich and diverse culture of the region.
Kaighn, sometimes found as Kaighan or Kaign, is believed to have originated from the Gaelic given name of Mac Egan, which itself is derived from the Irish Mac Aodhagain, meaning the “son of Aodhagain”. Aodhagain is derived from the ancient Gaelic name Aedh, which is the Irish cognate for Hugh.
Similar names also include Kayhan, Kaighin, Keighan, Keihan, Kaygan, Kiehan, and Kagan. Another Gaelic variant is MacCaghan, which is derived from the Old Irish Mac Cathan, meaning “son of Cathan”, a pet form of the name Cathán.
Some surnames that sound similar include Meighan, McAigen, MacKeighan, McGaughan, McKeogan, McCahan, Caghan, Kiehne, and MacGeehan.
In addition, there are families in various parts of the world that have taken “Kahng” or “Kahn” as an Anglicized form of Kaighn.
Overall, Kaighn is derived from many similar names and is of both Gaelic and Irish origins. It is a surname with a long and interesting history that has passed down through multiple generations.
Famous people with the name Kaighn
- Tariq Kaighn: Professional Baseball Player for the Miami Marlins
- Aiyanna Kaighn: Actress known for her roles in “Fear of Rain” and “The Chi”
- Sacha Kaighn: Former professional football player
- Rhoda Kaighn: Former manager of the New Jersey Nets
- Maud Kaighn: British actress and voice actor
- Sam Kaighn: singer/songwriter and Indie folk artist
- Shawn Kaighn: DJ, music producer, and visual artist
- Stuart Kaighn: Former professional footballer
- Paul Kaighn: Professional football player for Tampa Bay Mutiny
- Richard Kaighn: Painter and sculptor
- Pam Kaighn: Educational lobbyist and advocate
- Alan Kaighn: American poet and author
- Cameron Kaighn– Investigative journalist and author
- toniKaighn: Jazz musician and singer/songwriter
- QuestKaighn: Personal trainer and fitness model