Keen Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Keen last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Keen last name
Meaning of the Keen last name: bold, brave. Keen is an English surname from Old English cene, "bold, brave", a nickname for a fearless person. It may also come from the personal name Cyna. The last name was common in southern England and is now found across the United States and Australia.
Arms associated with the Keen name
Heraldry associated with the Keen surname uses a few strong colours, and each coat of arms has its own blazon.
Get your full Keen family history
This is only a glimpse of the Keen story. The full Keen history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Keen coat of arms. Get the full Keen report.
Keen name FAQ
What does the Keen name mean?
bold, brave. Common variants include Keene, Keane.
Where does the Keen surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Keen coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Keen coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).