Killeen — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Cillín
Meaning: 'descendant of Cillín (a diminutive of Ceallach)'
Traditional stronghold: Clare, Mayo
Pronunciation: kil-EEN; Irish Ó Cillín: oh KILL-een
History of the Killeen name
Ó Cillín derives from Cillín, a diminutive personal name usually taken as a pet form of Ceallach and borne by several early Irish saints. The sept arose in Connacht, where the name has always been most numerous in Mayo and Galway, and a strong branch became established in Clare; the related form Killian represents the same Irish name, while Killen is its usual Ulster spelling. The name appears in the medieval church records of the west, in keeping with its saintly associations. Killeen is also a common Irish placename, from cillín, a little church, though the surname derives from the personal name rather than directly from the word.
Variants: Killian · Killen
Famous bearers of the name
- Michael Killeen — Public servant who as head of the IDA drove Ireland's industrial development strategy in the 1970s.
- Tony Killeen — Clare Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister for Defence.
Related names from the same part of Ireland: O'Brien · Walsh · Kennedy · Quinn · Burke · McDonnell · McMahon · Boland