Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • Irish : shortened form of McMeans.
  • English : habitational names from East and West Meon in Hampshire, which take their names from the Meon river. The word is Celtic but of uncertain meaning, possibly ‘swift one’.
  • nickname from Middle English mene ‘inferior in rank’, ‘of low degree’ (from Old English gemǣne), or from Middle English mene ‘moderate in behaviour’ (from Old French mëen, mean).

Subscribe to Family Education

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe