The name Skeoughvosteen, Sceach an Mhaistín as gaeilge, is an unusual place name with several theories as to its origin. A "sceach" is a hawthorn or thorny bush, while "maistín" may come from the word for a mastiff, or a fierce guard dog. The 1985 book "The Placenames of Kilkenny" by Sheila O'Kelly and The Kilkenny Archaeological Society suggests that "Skeaghvasteen" may come from Sceach Abhaistín, meaning Augustine's sceach.