The Kane Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Kane, its origins in Ireland, and the story behind a Kane family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Kane coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Kane name
Kane is the usual Ulster form of Ó Catháin, "descendant of Cathán", a name from cath, "battle". The O'Kanes were a leading family of County Derry, lords of Keenaght and Coleraine under the O'Neills, and the name is still most common in Ulster. In Munster and Connacht the same Irish name is usually spelled Keane. Kane is also widespread in Scotland and the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Kane name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Kane name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Scotland and England; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Kane family history
The complete Kane pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Kane name FAQ
What does the Kane name mean?
Descendant of Cathán ("battle"). Common variants include O'Kane, O'Cahan, Keane.
Where does the Kane surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Scotland and England.
Is there a Kane coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Kane crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Kane coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).