Keane is an Irish surname-name from Cian, meaning ancient or enduring.
Keane is rooted in the ancient Irish name Cian — sometimes anglicized as Kian or Cein — which carries the meaning "ancient" or "enduring." In Irish mythology, Cian was the father of Lugh, the sun god and master craftsman of the Tuatha Dé Danann, giving the name a mythological pedigree that stretches back to Ireland's earliest recorded stories.
As a surname, it crystallized into Ó Catháin (anglicized Keane or Kane), the name of a powerful Gaelic clan from County Derry. It crossed from surname to given name through the familiar Irish practice of honoring family lineage. In the world of theater and performance, Keane carries the echo of Edmund Kean (1787–1833), one of the most celebrated tragic actors in English theatrical history, whose Shylock and Iago were said to have permanently altered how Shakespeare was performed.
The early twenty-first century brought a different kind of fame: the British rock band Keane, formed in Battle, East Sussex, whose piano-driven melancholy made them one of the defining acts of the 2000s. As a given name, Keane has grown steadily in use among families seeking a name that sounds contemporary but is grounded in genuine history — sharp without being harsh, and quietly strong.