What Does “Kin” Mean in Irish Placenames?

Towns and cities with Kin

Kinsale · Cionn tSáile · County Cork
'head of the tide'
Kenmare · Neidín · County Kerry
The Irish name means 'the little nest'; the English name comes from Ceann Mara, 'head of the sea', for its place at the head of Kenmare Bay
Kingscourt · Dún an Rí · County Cavan
Fort of the king; the English name keeps the same meaning 'in an English dress', as Joyce puts it, and the town was historically known as Dunaree

Quick answers

What does Kin mean in Irish place names?

Head, headland: it is the Irish ceann. It is written Kin, Ken, Can in English spellings of Irish names.

How is Kin spelled in Irish?

ceann. English spellings of the same word include Kin, Ken, Can, because the names were written down by ear.

Which towns have Kin in their name?

Kinsale (Cionn tSáile), Kenmare (Neidín), Kingscourt (Dún an Rí).