Keener Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Keener last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Keener last name
Meaning of the Keener last name: bold. Keener is a German surname, an American form of Kühner, from kühn, 'bold' or 'daring'. The last name is common among Pennsylvania German families. A curious detail: German ü often became ee in American spelling, so Kühner and Keener sound closer than they look.
Arms associated with the Keener name
German heraldry favours bold colours and clear figures, and coats of arms associated with the Keener surname, each with its blazon, follow that style.
Get your full Keener family history
This is only a glimpse of the Keener story. The full Keener history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Keener coat of arms. Get the full Keener report.
Keener name FAQ
What does the Keener name mean?
Bold. Common variants include Kuhner.
Where does the Keener surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, Austria and Switzerland.
Is there a Keener coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Keener coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).