Surname Keher - Meaning and Origin
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Keher: What does the surname Keher mean?
Keher is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Caoimh. The meaning of the surname is “descendant of Caoimh,” with Caoimh (or Caomh) being an ancient Irish name meaning “gentle” or “kind.” The name is found mainly in Counties Cork and Kerry, where the Ó Caoimh family were well-known poets.
As a name, Keher is iconic of the Irish culture and history. It is strong and proud – indicative of the strong and proud culture of the this nation. As such, the Keher family are seen as one of the ‘old Irish’ families, one which has been around for hundreds of years and signified an older, richer and more important heritage.
Given its meaning and its reputation, Keher is a name that is imbued with power, pride, and respect. It is a name for a family that is known for its strength, courage, and ambition, all of which – along with kindness – makes it a powerful name rooted in the proud and unwavering spirit of Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisKeher: Where does the name Keher come from?
The last name Keher is most commonly found in Ireland, specifically within Counties Cork and Galway. According to MapOfNames.org, the surname Keher is shared by 4,176 people in Ireland. It is also commonly found in England, Scotland, Wales, Australia, and the United States.
The origin of the surname has several theories. Some believe that Keher is an Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic surname, Mac Eachaidh, or MacAghaidh, meaning “son of Aghaidh”. Others link the name to MacFineen, a more unusual Gaelic surname that also translates to "son of Aghaidh".
Though the last name is most commonly found in Ireland, records indicate that the first recorded mention of the Keher surname was in England. This was in 1327, when someone with the name Richard le Keher registered in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire.
Since then, the surname has spread to other countries like the United States, where Kehers often settled in Midwestern states such as Illinois and Michigan. Today, the last name is quite common across the United States, among other countries where it is found.
Variations of the surname Keher
The surname Keher is an Irish name, originating from the native Gaelic language. It is derived from the old Irish phrase "ciathar", meaning warrior in English. Variants, spellings and surnames which are derivatives of Keher include Cere, Ceher, Kehir, Cehir, Cehair, Kaher, Keair, KeeHer, Kehere and Kayher.
Cere is the most commonly used variant of the Keher surname in Ireland. The Cere spelling is often seen in records from County Mayo, while the Ceher spelling is most commonly found in Counties Kerry, Cork and Limerick. Kehir is an alternate spelling of the surname which is found mainly in County Clare, while Cehir is used in Galway.
The Cehair spelling is seen mainly in County Armagh, and Kaher is the variant found in County Donegal. The derived surnames Keair and KeeHer can be found mostly in counties Monaghan and Down, with Kehere found mainly in Fermanagh. The Kayher spelling is mainly used in counties Tyrone and Cavan.
These different variants and spellings of the Irish surname Keher are all derived from the same Irish name, and demonstrate the various ways a name can be spelled and adapted during the translation by different families in their own part of Ireland.
Famous people with the name Keher
- Brendan Keane: Irish celebrity chef
- Richard Keher: Irish actor
- William Keher: actor, director, and writer
- Mike Keher: English actor
- Sam Keher: UK-based singer and songwriter
- Nancy Keher: global media executive
- Ian Keher: English actor
- Joe Keher: former Gaelic football player
- Thea Keher: Irish festival presenter
- Dave Keher: actor, director, and producer