Kane Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Kane Family History

Kane Family History

The ancient origin of the name Kane was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. The name Kane in Ireland can be of immigrant origin from Scotland, especially in Ulster Province, or it can be derived from one of the two great Gaelic septs of O'Cathain from which the names Keane and Keene are also derived. The early anglicized form of the name was O'Cahan, but in modern times the forms Keane, Kane, O'Kane, MacCloskey and MacEvinney are most often used. The families of Keenaght and Coleraine were a powerful and important sept. Once established there they retained their ascendancy in the County, which is now County Derry, until they were ruined by the Plantation of Ulster. Many of the sept are recorded in the 'Annals' from the year 1170 onwards. The MacCloskeys of County Derry are another branch of the family, being descended from Closkey O'Kane. Another branch anglicized their name as MacEvinney or MacAvinny, their ancestor being Aibhne O'Cathain. The Kane family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Kane descendants.