Kneen

Kneen, (pronounced "neen" with the 'K' silent), is a Manx surname. There have been several interpretations of the origin of the surname. ''Kneen'' may be an Anglicisation of the Gaelic patronymic ''Mac Niadháin'', which is derived from a pet form of the Gaelic personal name ''Nia'' meaning "champion". Another origin attributed to the surname is that ''Kneen'' may be derived from the Gaelic ''Mac Cianain'', meaning "son of ''Cianan''". The name ''Cianan'' being a diminutive of ''cian'', meaning "long". Another opinion published in the 19th century is that ''Kneen'' is possibly a corruption of the surname ''Nevyn'', and derived from the Gaelic ''Naomh'' meaning "a saint". This origin has been attributed to the name because ''Kneen'' had been thought to be confused in early documents with the surnames ''Nevyn'' and ''Nevyne''. An ''Andrew John Nevyn'' is recorded in 1417. A ''Jenkin M'Nyne'' is recorded in 1429, and later in 1430 his name is recorded as ''Jenkine Mac Nevyne''. Provided by Wikipedia