This website has been created to bring together genealogical researchers of the Cain line in an effort to determine the ancestry and roots of the various Cain families. We hope to identify Cains etc from the following genetic lines:

1. Cain,Kane,Keane, etc. wheresoever found;

2. O'Cathain chiefs of Ciannacht-Glinnegeimhein (Keenaught-Glengoiven), Co. Derry in Ulster. Their descendants bear the name Kane and other variations. Kane is the 11th most common surname in Co Derry, the orginal homeland of this clan.

"Of the Cenel Eoghain of mild countenance
Prince of Ciannacht is O'Cathain
His forces are ready at every call";

A good website is http:kaneclan.org even if the webmaster is really a Galway Kane, almost certainly a member of thr next O'Cathain clan covered below.

3. O'Cathain (now Cain/Kane/Keane) chiefs of Cenel Sedna, Co.Galway in Connaught. Their descendants bear the name Keane and other variations. Keane is the 14th most common surname in Co Galway.

"Over Cenel Sedna of rods rules O'Cathain
Brave their battle
To them the profits of the shore and flood"

Their genealogy is recorded as:
Fiachaidh Sraibhthine ("of the Fire Stream"), 1st king of Connaught of the race of Eireamhon, 120th Ard Ri 297-327;
Muireadach Tirach ("of the Land"), 122nd Ard Ri 331-357;
Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin ("Slaves Lord"), 124th Ard Ri 358-366;
Fiachra Folt-Leathan ("of the Flowing Hair"), half-brother of Niall Noigallach, 126th Ard Ri 379-405;
Dathi, Niall's Commander-in-Chief and successor as 127th Ard Ri 405-428, last pagan king of Ireland whose red burial stone still stands at Croghan, ancient royal capital of Connaught;
Eochaidh Breac ("the freckled"), brother of Ailioll Molt, 129th Ard Ri 458-478;
Eoghain Aidhne
Conall, whose sister St Faoileann's feast day is 13 September;
Gabhrainn, victor of the Battle of Claenloch, 538;
Aodh, brother of Cobhthach, 11th Christian King of Connaught 601-622
Bec
Comasach
Concobhar
Thorpa
Cionnaeth
Bracan
Ogan
Cathal, progenitor of the O'Cathain Chiefs of Cenel Sedna. The O'Cathain clan territory was said to be in Loughrea Barony, Co Galway. Richard Mor de Burgh, "The Great Lord of Connaught", seized Loughrea in 1235, dispossesssed and dispersed the O'Cathains, and built a castle there in 1236 which became his principal manor.

The Galway O'Cathains produced the first recorded O'Cathain, Eoghan Ui Cathain, Abbot of Cluainfearta Brenainn (Clonfert, Co Galway), who died 980 AD (Ref: Annals of the Four Masters). Another early man of the church was Gerald O'Cathain, the most learned man in the order of Canons, who died 1229 AD Ref: Annala Connachta).

Their coat of arms was: Gules, three salmon or, between three mullets or. Crest: an arm in armour embowed, the hand grasping a sword proper.

4. O'Cathain (now Keane,Cain), coarbs of St Senan, Scattery Island, Co.Clare. Nicholas Cahane, "coarb of St Senan as were his ancestors" was appointed Coroner of Clare ca 1576 and held Kilrush in 1604. A later Nicholas Cain "from near the Shannon" and bearing Y-DNA which matches Keanes from the Shannon Estuary, settled in Virginia;

5. O'Cian of Co Waterford. This name morphed into Keane, making it indistinguishable from the O'Cathains. The O'Cians even adopted an Ulster O'Cathain identity with an improbable claim of Ulster descent.

"Ui Fodhladha it is our duty to record
We treat of its blooming forest
O'Kean from Machuin Meadaidh,
His fame shall spread over tribes."

6. Cain(e)of the Isle of Man. Their coat of arms bearing a phoenix arising from the flames is often misrepresented by commercial companies as belonging to all Cains, although the Manx Cains appear to be a minority; and

7. Cain & Cane of Sussex & Hampshire, England.