Keen is an English surname. It is either a

nickname surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name, ...

for someone who is brave, or from the

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English p ...

or Olde English personal name 'Kene', which means king. Alternatively, it can be a variation of the Irish surname

O'Cahan The O'Cahan (Irish: ''Ó Catháin'' 'descendants of Cahan') were a powerful sept of the Northern Uí Néill’s Cenél nEógain in medieval Ireland. The name is presently anglicized as Keane, O'Kane and Kane. The O'Cahan's originated in Laggan ...

Notable people with this name include

Alan Keen David Alan Keen (25 November 1937 – 10 November 2011) was a British Labour Co-operative politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Feltham and Heston from 1992 until his death in 2011. Early life Although born in London, Alan Ke ...

(1937–2011), British politician *

Andrew Keen Andrew Keen (born c. 1960Saracevic, Alan T. (15 October 2006)Debate 2.0 / Weighing the merits of the new Webocracy.''San Francisco Chronicle'' ("Age: 46")) is a British-American entrepreneur and author. He is particularly known for his view tha ...

(born c. 1960), British-American entrepreneur and author *

Ann Keen Ann Lloyd Keen (''née'' Fox; born 26 November 1948) is a British Labour Party politician, who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Brentford and Isleworth from 1997, until she was defeated by Conservative candidate Mary Macleod in 2010. ...

(born 1948), British politician *

Arthur Keen (businessman) Arthur Keen (23 January 1835 – 8 February 1915) was a British entrepreneur, the ''Keen'' in engineering firm Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds, later GKN plc. Early years His early years are uncertain but he was born in Cheshire, perhaps near Nor ...

(1835–1915), British entrepreneur *

Arthur Keen (aviator) Major Arthur Willan Keen (20 March 1895 – 2 September 1918) was a British World War I flying ace credited with fourteen aerial victories. Keen won his first decoration before ever seeing combat when he saved a fellow pilot from drowning on 17 J ...

(1895–1918), British World War I flying ace *

Diane Keen Diane Keen (born 29 July 1946) is an English actress, known for her portrayal of Fliss Hawthorne in the Granada sitcom ''The Cuckoo Waltz'' and Julia Parsons on the BBC soap opera ''Doctors''. She also appeared in Nescafé advertisements from 19 ...

(born 1946), English actress *

Geoffrey Keen Geoffrey Keen (21 August 1916 – 3 November 2005) was an English actor who appeared in supporting roles in many films. He is well known for playing British Defence Minister Sir Frederick Gray in the ''James Bond'' films. Biography Early li ...

(1916–2005), English actor *

Harold Keen Harold Hall "Doc" Keen (1894–1973) was a British engineer who produced the engineering design, and oversaw the construction of, the British bombe, a codebreaking machine used in World War II to read German messages sent using the Enigma machi ...

(1894–1973), British engineer *

Helen Keen Helen Keen is an English alternative comedian and writer born in Yorkshire, now living in London. She suffered with SM (Selective Mutism) as a child but overcame this before becoming a comedian. Career Keen was raised in Hull, East Riding of Yo ...

, English comedian * Jessica Keen (1975–1991), American murder victim *

John "Speedy" Keen John David Percy "Speedy" Keen (29 March 1945 – 12 March 2002)''The Gua ...

(1945–2002), English rock musician *

John Keen (cyclist) John Thompson Keen was born on 25 February 1849 at Broadway in the county of Worcestershire, England, and lived in Surbiton, Surrey from the age of five. He gained an international reputation both as a professional sports cyclist and a manufactu ...

(1849–1902), British cyclist * Laurence Keen, British Archaeologist *

Malcolm Keen Malcolm Keen (8 August 1887 – 30 January 1970) was an English actor of stage, film and television. He was sometimes credited as Malcolm Keane.Noah Keen Noah Keen (October 10, 1920 – March 24, 2019) was an American film and television actor. Early life Keen was born in Cincinnati, Ohio,and was raised there with his brother Buddy and also had a sister, Helen Keen. He fought in World War ...

(1920–2019), American actor *

Maurice Keen Maurice Hugh Keen (30 October 1933 – 11 September 2012) was a British historian specializing in the Middle Ages. His father had been the Oxford University head of finance ('Keeper of the University Chest') and a fellow of Balliol College, Ox ...

(1933–2012), British historian *

Peter Keen Peter Alan Keen (born 16 November 1976) is an English professional football goalkeeper. Keen was born in Middlesbrough and began his career as a trainee with Newcastle United, turning professional in August 1995. He joined Carlisle United on ...

(born 1976), English footballer *

Peter Keen (cyclist) Peter Keen CBE (born 1964) is a former cyclist, coach, and now performance director. Keen was born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. In 1980 he won the schoolboy 10-mile time-trial championships. That led selection by the British Cycling Feder ...

(born 1964), British cycling coach *

Richard Keen Richard Sanderson Keen, Baron Keen of Elie (born 29 March 1954) is a British lawyer and Conservative Party politician. He was Advocate General for Scotland from May 2015 until his resignation on 16 September 2020. Early life Keen was educated ...

(born 1954), Scottish lawyer *

Richard Keen (racing driver) Richard Keen (born 3 September 1986) is a British auto racing driver. He was most notable for entering the World Series by Renault in 2006, and for winning the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy in 2007. Career Karting Keen, born in Amersham, ...

(born 1986), English racing driver *

Robert Earl Keen Robert Earl Keen (born January 11, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter and entertainer. Debuting with 1984's ''No Kinda Dancer'', the Houston native has recorded 20 full-length albums for both independent and major record labels. His songs ha ...

(born 1956), American guitarist *

Sam Keen Sam Keen (born 1931) is an American author, professor, and philosopher who is best known for his exploration of questions regarding love, life, wonder, religion, and being a male in contemporary society. He co-produced ''Faces of the Enemy'', an a ...

, American author, professor and philosopher *

Simon Keen Simon John Cobrin Keen (born 4 October 1987 in Penrith, New South Wales) is an Australian cricketer. He is currently a member of the New South Wales Blues state squad. Keen plays club cricket for Campbelltown in Sydney Grade cricket and has play ...

(born 1987), Australian cricketer *

Steve Keen Steve Keen (born 28 March 1953) is an Australian economist and author. He considers himself a post-Keynesian, criticising neoclassical economics as inconsistent, unscientific and empirically unsupported. The major influences on Keen's thinking ...

(born 1953), Australian economist * Captain Keen/Commander Keen, the main character in

Commander Keen ''Commander Keen'' is a series of side-scrolling platform video games developed primarily by id Software. The series consists of six main episodes, a "lost" episode, and a final game; all but the final game were originally released for MS-DOS in ...

games

References

{{surname English-language surnames

Notable people with this name include

See also

References