Kehoe, originally spelled MacKehoe (from Irish 'son of

Eochaid Eochaid or Eochaidh (earlier Eochu or Eocho, sometimes Anglicised as Eochy, Achaius or Haughey) is a popular medieval Irish and Scottish Gaelic name deriving from Old Irish ''ech'', horse, borne by a variety of historical and legendary figures. V ...

h', a personal name based on 'horse'), is an Irish surname that stems from several distinct septs in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. The most notable branch were from southeastern Ireland in the province of

Leinster Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ir ...

and are descended from

Brandub mac Echach Brandub mac Echach (died 605) was an Irish king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. His father, Echu mac Muiredaig had been a king of the Ui Cheinnselaig. They belonged to a branch known as the Uí Felmeda descended from Fedelmid, son of Énnae ...

, King of Leinster, in the 6th century AD. This branch were the Chief Filí of Leinster up until the 17th century and inaugurated the Kings of Leinster upon their stone called Leac Mhic Eochadha ("Eochaidh's flagstone"). Another unrelated and separate branch, descends from King

Domnall Mór Ua Cellaigh Domnall Mór Ua Cellaigh, 42nd King of Uí Maine and 9th Chief of the Name, died 1221. Reign Domnall Mór's reign is one of the most obscure of the High Medieval kings of Uí Maine. The kingdom is only indirectly mentioned in the annals. While t ...

of the O'Kellys of

Uí Maine U or u, is the twenty-first and sixth-to-last letter and fifth vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''u'' (pro ...

, who died in 1221. Many of their descendants have emigrated to America and have spread throughout that part of the world. The name is spelled in a variety of ways, however the most common are ''Kehoe'', ''

Keogh Keogh (usually pronounced ) is an Irish surname. It is a reduced Anglicized form of the Gaelic or , 'son of Eochaidh'. The personal name is in turn based upon the Gaelic word for horse (Old Irish ). The spelling ''K'Eogh'' is used by one pa ...

'' and '' Keough''. In Ireland the ''Kehoe'' version is used most often in and around

County Wexford County Wexford ( ga, Contae Loch Garman) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region. Named after the town of Wexford, it was based on the historic Gaelic territory of Hy Kinsella (''Uí Ceinns ...

while ''Keogh'' is more common throughout the rest of the country.

People named Kehoe

Alice Beck Kehoe Alice Beck Kehoe (born 1934, New York City) is a feminist anthropologist and archaeologist. She has done considerable field research among Native American peoples in the upper plains of the US and Canada, and has authored research volumes on Nativ ...

(born 1934), American anthropologist *

Andrew Kehoe Andrew Philip Kehoe (February 1, 1872 – May 18, 1927) was an American mass murderer. Kehoe was a Michigan farmer who became disgruntled after losing reelection as treasurer of the Bath Township school board. He subsequently murdered his wife ...

(1872–1927), American mass murderer and school bomber *

Bob Kehoe Robert V. Kehoe (1928 – September 4, 2017) was an American soccer player who played as a defender. He earned four caps as captain of the U.S. national team in 1965. He later coached the US national team in 1972. He was also the first U.S. bor ...

(1928–2017), American footballer *

Brendan Kehoe Brendan Patrick Kehoe (3 December 1970 – 19 July 2011) was an Irish software developer and author. Born in Dublin, Kehoe was raised in China, Maine, in the United States. In his early teens, he was first exposed to computing when he was given ...

(1970–2011), Author and software developer * Brian Kehoe (born 1982), American male fashion model * Bryan Kehoe, American musician, member of

M.I.R.V. M.I.R.V. was a band based in the San Francisco, California, Bay Area. The band was founded in 1993. Its musical style includes elements of hard rock, Heavy metal music, heavy metal, funk, country music, country, opera, Experimental music, experi ...

Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade (also known as The Les Claypool Frog Brigade) is a musical project with rotating personnel, led by American singer/bassist Les Claypool. The Frog Brigade was formed during a hiatus from Claypool ...

Duo de Twang Duo de Twang is an American country music duo formed in 2012. It features Primus bass guitarist Les Claypool and M.I.R.V. guitarist Bryan Kehoe, who is Claypool's friend since high school. History The duo was originally conceived as a one-off g ...

Chevie Kehoe Chevie O'Brien Kehoe (born January 29, 1973) is an American convicted murderer. He is serving three consecutive life sentences for the kidnapping, torture, and murder of William Mueller and his family. His accomplice, Daniel Lewis Lee, was sente ...

(born 1973), American white supremacist convicted of 3 murders and other violent felonies *

Christine Kehoe Christine T. Kehoe (born October 3, 1950) is an American politician from San Diego, California. A Democrat, she served from 2004 to 2012 as a member of the California State Senate, representing the 39th district. She was previously a member of th ...

(born 1950), politician from California *

Frank Kehoe Frank D. Kehoe (February 8, 1882 – December 26, 1949) was an American diver and water polo player. He represented the United States at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missour ...

, American diver and water polo player *

Harry Kehoe Harry Kehoe (born 7 November 1990) is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Cloughbawn and has been a member of the Wexford senior team since 2009. Honours ;Waterford Institute of Technology *Fitzgibbon Cup: 2014 ;C ...

(born 1990), Irish hurler * Jack Kehoe (1934–2020), American actor * James J. Kehoe (1863–1909), New York state senator 1905–1906 * James N. Kehoe (1862–1945), American politician * James W. Kehoe (1925–1998), American lawyer and judge *

Jennifer Kehoe Major (United Kingdom), Major Jennifer "Jen" Kehoe (born 15 November 1983) is an author and former professional skier, formerly competing with visually impaired athlete Menna Fitzpatrick as her sighted guide on the International Paralympic Com ...

(born 1983), British skier and army officer *

Jim Kehoe James Henry Kehoe, Jr. (June 3, 1918 – January 17, 2010) was an American athletics coach and university administrator. He served as the athletic director at the University of Maryland from 1969 to 1978, during which time he was responsible fo ...

(1918–2010), American university administrator * John Kehoe - multiple people *

Justin Kehoe Justin Kehoe (born 14 February 1980) is an Irish professional golfer. Kehoe, who turned pro in 2004, lives in Birr, County Offaly. He qualified for the 2007 Open Championship, but missed the cut following the first 36 holes. He plays mainly o ...

(born 1980), Irish professional golfer *

Kevin Kehoe (hurler) Kevin Kehoe (born 1991 in Bahana, County Carlow) is an Irish athlete. He plays hurling with his local club St Mullin's and has been a member of the senior Carlow county hurling team The Carlow county hurling team represents Carlow in hurlin ...

(born 1991), Irish hurler * Kevin Kehoe (politician), American politician * L. Paul Kehoe (born 1938), New York politician and judge *

Michael Kehoe Michael Kehoe (22 June 1899 – 8 January 1977) was the 16th president of the Gaelic Athletic Association (1949–1952). Born in Wexford, Kehoe took part in the Easter Rising there. Active in the Irish language movement, Kehoe was co-founder of C ...

(1899–1977), 16th president of the Gaelic Athletic Association *

Nicholas Kehoe Nicholas Bernard Kehoe III (May 28, 1943 – December 18, 2022) was a Lieutenant general (United States), lieutenant general in the United States Air Force (USAF) who served as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. His last active duty assignme ...

(1943–2022), U.S. Air Force lieutenant general *

Patrick Kehoe Patrick Kehoe was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A farmer, he was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency at the 1933 general election. He did not contest the 1937 general election. At the ...

, Irish politician *

Paudie Kehoe Paudie Kehoe (born 1990) is an Irish hurler who plays as a left corner-forward for the Carlow senior team. Kehoe made his first appearance for the team during the 2009 Christy Ring Cup and has become a regular member of the starting fifteen s ...

(born 1990), Irish hurler *

Paul Kehoe Paul Kehoe (born 11 January 1973) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency since 2002. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovat ...

(born 1973), Irish politician *

Robert A. Kehoe Robert Arthur Kehoe (; November 18, 1893 – November 24, 1992) was an American toxicologist and a dominant figure in occupational health. Working on behalf of the lead industry (including the manufacturing of leaded gasoline and lead-acid batter ...

(1893–1992), toxicologist and apologist for the use of lead as an additive in gasoline * Richie Kehoe (born 1986), Irish hurler *

Rick Kehoe Ricky Thomas Kehoe (born July 15, 1951) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach, most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. Playing career Kehoe played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey Asso ...

(born 1951), Canadian hockey player * Sally Kehoe (born 1986), Australian rower * Scott Kehoe (born 1964), American football player * Tim Kehoe (1970–2014), American author and inventor *

Timothy Kehoe Timothy Jerome Kehoe (born June 13, 1953) is an American economist and professor at the University of Minnesota. His area of specialty is macroeconomics and international economics. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Providence College in ...

(born 1953), American macroeconomist *

Toddy Kehoe Toddy may refer to: Places * Toddy Bridge, a pedestrian bridge in Singapore * Toddy Pond, a pond in Antarctica * Todmorden, a town in Yorkshire, England, informally called Toddy People * Ralph "Toddy" Giannini (1917–1996), American basketball ...

(1918–2024), Canadian politician, philanthropist and disability rights activist *

Walter Kehoe James Walter Kehoe (April 25, 1870 – August 20, 1938) was a U.S. Representative from Florida for one term from 1917 to 1919. Early life and education Born in Eufaula, Alabama, Kehoe attended the common schools. He moved to Florida in 1883. He ...

(1870–1938), US Congressman from Florida

People named Kehoe

See also