Kneen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kneen, (pronounced 'neen' with the 'K' silent) is family Surname of Manx origin tracing its routes back to the time of the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles. Primarily being found in the north of the Isle of Man, and being prominent in the northern parishes of the Isle where the family and their holdings were situated. The surname is of very old origin, with the first recording dating back to the early 1400's AD.

The Surname "Kneen", derives from the Manx "Mac" Cinain" the son of "Cianan" spelt "Kynyne" 1422. An early record of the surname "Mac Cianain" on the Isle of Man, is a reference to one "Jenkin McNyne". Jenkin McNyne (also later recorded as Jenkin MacNevyne) was recorded in 1429 as a wealthy and large landowner on the Isle. Kneen has also been recorded as "Keneen" which was listed in 1666 and "Kaneen" in 1740 in records from the Isle. Additionally the family has association with the Scottish Clan McNiven.

Since the crown of the Isle of Man has passed to the British Monarch, the Anglicization of the surname to some extent has occurred. The 'K' of the surname is now silent but in the past was pronounced, serving the same purpose as the 'Mc or Mac' in Scottish. The family is believed descended from Olaf II of the Isle of Man who ruled the Isle of Man and the Northern Isles adjacent to Scotland from 1229 to 1237 until his death at Peel Castle, in the Isle of Man.

The family has produced a number of distinguished members of Manx Society throughout the centuries with recent examples including Thomas Kneen, H.M. Clerk of the Rolls for the Isle of Man, a Deemster and who also occupied the chair in Tynwald Court, performing the duties of Lieutenant-Governor on more than one occasion.

Others are the noted Gaelic Scholar John Joseph Kneen who was knighted by King Haakon VII of Norway, with a Knighthood of The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav as a 'Ridder av I Klasse av St. Olavs Orden, Norge', being for his contribution to Manx and Norse research and the Manx Artist Willian Kneen.

The family surname is dispersed throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and to a lesser extent South Africa. This being the result of Manx emigration in the mid 19th Century.