I knew that the Kneen surname originated on the Isle of Man, but beyond that I did not know much. So I did a little bit of the legwork online and also asked family and friends for any leads and here is what I have come up with so far.
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General Historical Overview:
Surnames as we know them today were first assumed in Europe from the 11th to the 15th century. They were not used in England and Scotland before the Norman Conquest of 1066 and were first found in the Doomsday Book. The employment of a second name, a custom introduced by the Norman’s. Who themselves had not before adopted it, became in cause of time a mark of gentle blood? And it was deemed a disgrace for a gentleman to have but one single name, as the meaner sort had. It was not until the reign of Edward 2, 1307-1327, that the practice became general amongst all people.
These names were adopted according to fairly general principles and can be generally divided into four classifications. Local names are taken from places of origin. Occupational names denote the trade or profession of early users. Nicknames describe mental and physical characteristics complain clothes etceteras. The patronymic was the method of taking the first name of the father as the last name of the son.
(http://www.kneen.com/Surname.htm)
One interpretation of the oritin of this surname was that it may have been an Anglicisation of the Gaelic patronymic Mac Niadháin, which is derived from a pet form of the Gaelic personal name Nia meaning "champion".[1][2]
Further speculation/research has indicated that Kneen surname may be derived from the Gaelic Mac Cianain,[3] meaning "son of Cianan" spelt "Kynyne" 1422. The name Cianan being a diminutive of cian, meaning "long".[4] Another opinion published in the 19th century is that the surname 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.[5] The earliest record of the surname "Mac Cianain"on the Isle of Man, is a reference to one "Jenkin McNyne" who was recorded in 1429. While "Keneen" was listed in 1666 and "Kaneen" in 1740.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kneen and/or http://www.ancestry.com/facts/kneen-family-history.ashx and/or http://www.kneen.com/Surname.htm)
The "Kneen " name dates from about 1422 and was spelt Kynyne, in 1666 it was Keneen, and Kaneen in 1740. It originated in Scotland and when the Isle of Man was invaded by the Scots many Manx names were formed. Kneen is also related to the clan Macintosh; they are entitled to wear the Macintosh tartan. Like a lot of Manx names the clan chart can be seen at the Laxey Woollen Mills. (http://www.kneen.com/Story.htm)
The Kneen name was first found in Ayrshire where they were seated long before the Norman Conquest in 1066. (http://www.houseofnames.com)
The name Kneen was first used by the Strathclyde Britons. As a surname the name Kneen was originally the Gaelic patronymic 'Mac Naoimhin', which is derived from the word 'naomh', meaning saint. (http://www.houseofnames.com)
Further spelling variations of this family name include: Niven, Nevin, Nivens, Nevins, Navin, Newen, Nevane, Niffen, Nifen, Niving, Neving, Newing, Neiven, Nivine, Nevisen, Nivisen, and many more. (http://www.houseofnames.com)
Armorial Bearings and Family Motto:
Blazon of Arms: Azure, on a fess between in chief an incresent and a
decresent and in base a palm branch argent, a crescent of
the first.
Translation: Azure(blue) denotes truth and loyalty. Argent(white)
signifies Peace & sincerity.
Crest: On a mount, a palm brach vert.
Motto: Vivis Sperandum (Kneen/Navin Family), Nil desperandum
(Niven Family).
Translation: Where there is life there is hope (Kneen Family)
To quicken hope (Kneen Family)
Never despair (Niven Family)
(http://nikkichiwa.buzznet.com/user/journal/1613001/) and (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nivenfamily/armorial.html)
The Arms granted to families of Nevin, Nevins, and Niven are basically the same and show an Irish origin. Those of the Nevinson family are however quite distinct.
Plate 8, crest number 41, in O’Hart’s Irish Pedigrees, shows a drawing in color of the Arms of Nevins: "Azure a fess argent between in chief a crescent and a crescent inverted, and in base a palm branc vert. Motto Nil Desperandum."
Burke’s General Armory has: McNevins (Registered Ulster’s Office) "Azure a fess argent between in chief a crescent and a crescent inverted and in base a palm branch all of the last. Crest, a palm branch vert. Motto, Vivis sperandum.
Niven (Peebles and Thornton, county Aberdeen, 1796) Argent a tower embattled gules between an increscent and a decrescent in chief azure, and a branch of palm in base ppr. Crest, a Pegasus courant argent, crowned and winged or. Motto, over the crest, I hope in God. Below the shield, Marte et Arte.
It is stated in Fairbairns Crest, "Niven of Aberdeen, these arms show the original Irish grant combined with the arms of MacNaughton.
Niven (Kirkbride, count Ayr, 1842) Azure on a fess between an increscent and decrescent in chief argent, and in base a branch of palm slipped of the last, three spear heads in pale gules. Crest, a branch of palm vert. Motto, Vivis Sperandum.
Niven (England) Azure a fesse between an increscent and decrescent in chief and a crescent in base argent. Crest, a holly branch vert.
Nevins (Confirmed to Willis Nevins Esq, Clevedale, county Gloucester, a son of Rev William Nevins, Rector of Miningsbye, county Lincoln, and grandson of John Jewitt Nevins Esq, of Clevedale, a native of Ireland, and their descendants) Azure a fess between an increascent and decrescent in chief and a branch of palm branch argent a crescent of the first. Crest, on a mount a palm branch vert. Motto, Nil Desperandum.
Nevinson or Nevison (Estry, county Kent, 1570) Argent a chevron between three eagles displayed azure, beaked and legged gules. Crest, a wolf passant argent pelletee, collared, lined and ringed. (Burke’s Armory of Great Britain and Ireland &c)
Mr. John MacLeod of H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, to whom the above list was sent, replied: "I find these arms are not recorded, at least in the Scottish Register of Arms. Those of Gilbert Neven of Shousburgh are recorded with a sketch, but no pedigree has been recorded. They appear to have been granted in 1677.
Lyon Register. Vol I. Folio 380.
C. 1677. Gilbert Neven of Shousburgh, Bears ayur a fess betwixt ane increscent and decresent in chief argent and ane branch of palme silpped in base or on ane helmet befitting his degree with a mantle gules doubled argent and wreath of his colloures is set for his crest a branch of palme vert. The Motto in ane Escroll Vivis Sperandum.
"The fess represent the military belt and girdle of honour used in ceremonies of old at the investiture of the nobility and knights, and was anciently bestowed by emperors, kings, and generals upon soldiers for special services.
The half moon is frequently in armories an ancient sign of honour with many nations. It was used by the priests of the Jews as a sign of eminency. The Romans used it as a sign of honour. The false prophet Mahomet had the half moon on his ensign, and St. Lewis of France in 1269 upon his expedition to Africa, to honour and encourage his subjects, instituted an order of knighthood called the Double Crescents.
The half moon is termed crescent, increscent, decrescent and crescent reversed, according to its position on the shield.
In the half moon with its horns towards the right side of the shield, called an increscent, it is said to represent the moon in its first quarter and so the rising in time of some hopeful spark, illuminated and honoured by the glorious aspect and beams of his sovereign.
The decrescent, when the halfmoon looks to the left of the shield itis a decrescent and is fit for a man that is advanced and to honour his old age, when all other things decrease with him, being the moon in her third quarter.
Trees, leaves, flowers &c, are borne in arms not only as symbolical, but as badges and marks of the countries and lands where they most abound and frequently are carried upon the account that their names have relation to those of the bearers.
The land of Judea was marked out of old by the palm tree, because many sich trees grew there, and many other countries have the like mark." (A System of Heraldry. Alexander Nisbet. Edinburgh. 1816. Vol I & II)
The palm branch on the Nevin Arms would seem to indicate service in the Crusades.
(http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nivenfamily/armorial.html)
Following up on the Navin Name:
Navin origin is patronymic, belonging to the category of surnames derived from the forename of the original bearer's father...Navin is a variant for of the name Nevin, which is an angliciazation of the Irish name MacCnaimhin, denoting the son of Cnamhan, possibly derived for the Irish name cnamh,meaning bone. MacCnaimhin is the name of a sept of Ui Maine, and the name appears frequently in the annals from 1159 onwards in the Co. Galway homeland. The chief resided at Crannagh-MacNevin, in the parish of Tynagh, near Loughrea, and the family held considerable property there until recent times. Hugh MacKnavin, Chief of the name, was hanged in 1602 for the participation in the resistance to Elizabethan aggression in Ireland. Bearers of the name were also famous as both poets & physicians... Three bearers of the name, Gilpatrick, Lucas & Patrick, are represented by long poems in the book of Magauran. The most celebrated of the physicians was William James MacNevin (1763-1841), who was involved in the Rising of '98. and his Uncle Baron MacNevin (1723-1790), who emigrated to Austria, was physician to the Empress Maria Theresa. Thomas MacNevin was a distinguished member of the Young Ireland movement of the 19th century. Modern times the name is indeed quite scattered, in the form of Navin (Knavin) it is now chiefly found in Co. Mayo. In west Clare the name has been changed to Neville also. (http://nikkichiwa.buzznet.com/user/journal/1613001/)
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So there you have it so far. This is a work in progress and will be updated as I find the information. I hope that you like all this information when you read it Theo. I wish that I knew more about my side of our family. One part of our (the Al-Haddad family's) records are predominantly in Arabic and on the German (the Steinert family) side there is no information available past your great-grandparents- which I will eventually post also. It's all in an album at Oma's and Opa's place I can't get to right now. And I'll get to the Rosenberg history at some point also.
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