McCann or MacCan is an

Irish surname A formal Irish name consists of a given name and a surname. In the Irish language, most surnames are patronymic surnames (distinct from patronymic, patronyms, which are seen in Icelandic names for example). The form of a surname varies according ...

and

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

surname. It is derived from the

Gaelic Gaelic (pronounced for Irish Gaelic and for Scots Gaelic) is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". It may refer to: Languages * Gaelic languages or Goidelic languages, a linguistic group that is one of the two branches of the Insul ...

''Mac Cana'' meaning "son of Cana". The Irish given name ''Cana'' literally means "cub", specifically alluding to a "

wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a Canis, canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, includin ...

cub" (i.e. a young warrior).Quinn, Sean. ''Surnames in Ireland''. Irish Genealogy Press, 2000. p. 54 The

Mac Cana The Mac Cana or Maccan were a Gaelic Irish clan who held lands in Clancann and Clanbrasil in what is now northern County Armagh, and had the title of 'Lords of Clanbrasil'. It is the origin of the surname McCann and Maccan. Etymology The ...

were a

Gaelic Irish The Gaels ( ; ; ; ) are an Insular Celtic ethnolinguistic group native to Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. They are associated with the Gaelic languages: a branch of the Celtic languages comprising Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaeli ...

clan who held the lands of Clancann and Clanbrassil, together known as

Oneilland Oneilland () is the name of a former barony in County Armagh, present-day Northern Ireland. It covers the northern area of the county bordering the south-eastern shoreline of Lough Neagh. At some stage the barony was divided into Oneilland Eas ...

, in what is now northern

County Armagh County Armagh ( ) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. It is located in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and adjoins the southern shore of Lough Neagh. It borders t ...

.A.J. Hughes and William Nolan (editors). ''Armagh: History and Society''. Geography Publications, 2001. p.318 The surname is strongly associated with that part of

Ulster Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...

. According to Irish tradition they are a Milesian people descended from Colla-da-Chrioch, the first king of Airgialla. The family of the name ''Mac Cana'', were known as lords of Clanbrassil.John O' Hart (editor). ''Irish Pedigrees: The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation''. 1876. They were a branch of the Cenel nEoghain, the large group of

Northern Uí Néill The Northern Uí Néill was any of several dynasties in north-western medieval Ireland that claimed descent from a common ancestor, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Other dynasties in central and eastern Ireland who also claimed descent from Niall ar ...

septs claiming descent from King

Eógan mac Néill Eógan mac Néill (Irish orthography: Eoghan mac Néill) (reportedly died in 465 in Ireland, 465) was a son of Niall Noígiallach and the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél nEógain (kindred of Eoghan) branch of the Northern Uí Néill. The Ce ...

, the son of the High King Niall of the Nine Hostages. Amhlaoibh Mac Cana is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters. He was praised for his chivalry, his vigour, and his strong drink he made from apples in his orchard. The McCanns are also stated as having had a castle at

Portadown Portadown ( ) is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town is based on the River Bann in the north of the county, about southwest of Belfast. It is in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area and had a population ...

in County Armagh. The last recorded Chief of the name, Donall MaCanna, was still known as lord of Clanbrassil as late as 1598. The title of lord of Clanbrassil is still held by the family of McCann in the area of County Louth.John Grenham (editor). ''Irish Family Names''. 1997. p.150 The McCann line features in John O' Hart's 19th century historical book, Irish pedigrees. In this book, the McCann line along with other surname lines are taken right back to Adam and Eve. Due to

anglicization Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English languag ...

the original form ''Mac Cana'' has had many different variations, such as

McGann Origin McGann is an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic ''MagAnnaidh'', an Old Irish translation or sept of the ''Mac Cana'' clan. Etymology The ''Cana'' particle is a personal name meaning ' cub/whelp', although some sources claim it is der ...

, MacCanne, McCanne, MacCann, MacCan,

Maccan Maccan is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Cumberland County 10 minutes away from Amherst, Nova Scotia on Route 302. The word Maccan is derived from the Mi'kmaq word 'Maakan' meaning a good place for fishing. ...

. The McCanne's spelt with an “e” on the end are from Scotland. Brothers William and Hugh McCanne originally native of Scotland moved to Ulster, Ireland. In 1752 they immigrated to

America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

from Ulster via

Dublin, Ireland Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

and landed in what is now

Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. With a population of 115,451 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, eighth-most populous city in the st ...

. From there William's descendants moved to Georgia, Missouri, Utah, California, Texas, Colorado, Louisiana and many other states. Some who are descended from this line of McCanne now spell there name as McCann as the “e” was dropped from the name. It is unknown whether this line is connected to the McCanns who come from Ireland. It has also been written as MacCanne as well on various documents in the past. Many people who are descended from William and Hugh when spelling their surname tend to superscript the first c and align it with the M with either one or two horizontal lines under the superscript c. This is essentially an abbreviation of “Mac”. Pepsi Inventor Caleb Bradham's maternal line is descended from William McCanne, his mother's maiden name was McCann.

Maccan of Italy

Over the years, a branch of the family from France moved to Italy. Here in the first half of the 17th century, from Nobles of Trento they became Counts of Tres by concession of

Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Austria Ferdinand Charles (17 May 1628 – 30 December 1662) was the Archduke of Further Austria, including Tyrol, from 1646 to 1662. As the son of Archduke Leopold V and Claudia de' Medici, he succeeded his father upon the latter's death in 1632, un ...

and subsequently Marquis.Filippo F. Manci (editor). "Matricula nobiliarium familiarum Principatus Tridenti ". 1747. Archive of Trento (editor). "Archivio di Stato di Trento, Archivio Storico Civico, Archivio Contarini". Fondo 166, Inventari 1357-1664

People named McCann

McCann is the

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

of Irish origin of several people, including: *

Austin McCann Austin McCann (born 21 January 1980) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a defender. During his career, McCann played in the Scottish Premier League for Heart of Midlothian as well as having spells in both the Scottish and English ...

(born 1980), Scottish footballer *

Bert McCann Robert Johnston McCann (15 October 1932 – 12 September 2017) was a Scottish footballer, who played as a wing half for Dundee North End, Dundee United, Queen's Park, Motherwell, Hamilton Academical and Scotland. McCann represented Scotland a ...

(1932–2017), Scottish footballer * Bill McCann (1892–1957), Australian soldier of World War I *

Bob McCann Robert Glen McCann (April 22, 1964 – July 1, 2011) was an American professional basketball player. He was listed as a power forward at 6'7" (or 6'6") and 244–248 lb. McCann died of heart failure in July 2011. McCann was born in Morris ...

(born 1964), American basketball player *

Brian McCann (actor) Brian McCann (born August 16, 1965) is an American actor, comedian and writer. He is best known for his sketch comedy work on the late-night talk show ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' and more recently on ''The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien'' an ...

(born 1965), American writer/actor/comedian *

Brian McCann (baseball) Brian Michael McCann (born February 20, 1984) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros. A seven-time Major League Basebal ...

(born 1984), American baseball player *

Bryan McCann Bryan McCann (born September 29, 1987) is an American former professional football cornerback. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Southern Methodist University. Early life McCa ...

(born 1987), American football player * Carole McCann, American academic * Casey McCann (c. 1943–2000), British anti-cult activist *

Charles McCann Yule Mervyn Charles McCann (4 December 1899 – 29 November 1980) was a natural history, naturalist in India and New Zealand. He wrote a popular book on the trees of India and edited a major regional flora apart from publishing many of his othe ...

(1899–1980), Indian naturalist *

Charles J. McCann Charles J. McCann (February 24, 1926July 8, 2015) was the first president of The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. McCann was born in Bristol, Connecticut. He received a Ph.D. in English and organization and management from Yale U ...

(1926–2015), an American college president *

Chris McCann Christopher John McCann (born 21 July 1987) is an Irish professional association football, footballer who plays as a midfielder for 1874 Northwich F.C., 1874 Northwich. Club career Burnley McCann was born in Dublin, County Dublin. He was broug ...

(born 1987), Irish footballer *

Chuck McCann Charles John Thomas McCann (September 2, 1934 – April 8, 2018) was an American actor, comedian, puppeteer, commercial presenter and television host. His career spanned over 70 years. He was best known for his work in presenting children's televi ...

(1934–2018), American actor *

Colum McCann Colum McCann (born February 28, 1965) is an Irish writer of literary fiction. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, and currently resides in New York. He is known as an international writer who believes in the "democracy of storytelling." He has won ...

(born 1965), Irish writer *

Denise McCann Denise McCann (born December 16, 1948, in Clinton, Iowa) is an American-Canadians, Canadian singer-songwriter. Biography Growing up in a musical family (her grandfather Albert Hews McCann, Sr. was a professional cornet player and singer in Shre ...

(born 1948) American-Canadian singer/songwriter and CBC Radio contributor *

Donal McCann Donal McCann (7 May 1943 – 17 July 1999) was an Irish stage, film, and television actor best known for his roles in the works of Brian Friel and for his lead role in John Huston's last film, '' The Dead'' (1987). In 2020, McCann was listed ...

(1943–1999), Irish actor *

E. Michael McCann Edward Michael McCann (born 1936) is an American attorney and politician who served as district attorney of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin from 1969 to 2007. A Democrat, McCann gained recognition for the length of his tenure and his successful reco ...

(born 1936), an American attorney and politician *

Eamonn McCann Eamonn McCann (born 10 March 1943) is an Irish political activist, former politician and journalist from Derry, Northern Ireland. McCann was a People Before Profit (PBP) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Foyle from 2016 to 2017. In ...

(born 1943), Irish journalist, author, and political activist *

Fergus McCann Fergus John McCann (born 26 February 1941) is a Scottish–Canadian businessman and entrepreneur. Biography McCann's wealth stemmed initially from a golf vacation company, based in Montreal and Phoenix. He is best known for his involvement in ...

(born 1941), Scottish-Canadian businessman and entrepreneur * Gavin McCann (born 1978), English footballer * Gerald McCann (born 1950), American politician *

Gordon J. McCann Gordon J. "Pete" McCann (1908 – January 18, 2000) was a Canadian Thoroughbred horse trainer. He was born in East York, now part of the city of Toronto. Known to his family as Gordon, in racing circles he was nicknamed Pete. Pete McCann bega ...

(1908–2000), Canadian horse trainer *

Grant McCann Grant Samuel McCann (born 15 April 1980) is a Northern Irish professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder in the Football League. He is the manager of club Doncaster Rovers. Born in Belfast, McCann played in the D ...

(born 1980), Northern Irish footballer * Henry McCann (1887–?), Scottish footballer *

Howie McCann Brian Michael McCann (born February 20, 1984) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros. A seven-time All-Star and a six-t ...

(born 1956), American baseball player and coach; father of Brian * Hugh McCann (born 1954), Scottish footballer *

Jack McCann John McCann (4 December 1910 – 16 July 1972) was a British politician, who served as the Labour Party (UK), Labour Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament for Rochdale (UK Parliament constituency), Rochdale. McCann wa ...

(1910–1972), British politician * James McCann (disambiguation), multiple people by the name of James or Jim *

Jared McCann Jared McCann (born May 31, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward currently playing for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). McCann was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round ( ...

(born 1996), Canadian ice hockey player *

John P. McCann John P. McCann is an American writer, actor and producer who has mostly focused on writing/producing animation and family-friendly scripts in the past. He is best known for his work on television cartoons, for which he has received numerous award ...

(born 1952), American writer and producer * Joe McCann (1947–1972), Irish Republican Army member *

Joseph McCann (academic) Joseph E. McCann III (1946–2015) was an American academic and academic administrator. McCann earned an MA and PhD from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, following an MBA and BA from the University of Washington The Universi ...

(1946–2015), American academic * Joseph McCann (criminal) (born 1985), rapist * Kate McCann, British political journalist *

Kerryn McCann Kerryn McCann ( Hindmarsh; 2 May 1967 – 7 December 2008) was an Australian athlete. She was best known for winning the marathon at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games. Personal life McCann was born Kerryn Hindmarsh in Bulli, New South Wales ...

(born 1967), Australian runner * Kevin McCann, multiple people *

Les McCann Leslie Coleman McCann (September 23, 1935 – December 29, 2023) was an American jazz pianist and vocalist. He is known for his innovations in soul jazz and his Swiss Movement, 1969 recording of the protest song "Compared to What". His music ha ...

(1935–2023), American musician *

Lila McCann Lila Elaine McCann (born December 4, 1981) is an American country music singer who made her debut at age 16 with the single "Down Came a Blackbird." Reaching a peak of No. 28 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, the song ...

(born 1981), American country music singer *

Madeleine McCann Madeleine Beth McCann (born 12 May 2003) is a British missing person, who at the age of 3 disappeared from her bed in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Lagos, Portugal, Lagos, Portugal, on the evening of 3 May 2007. ''The Daily Telegraph'' ...

(born 2003), British girl who disappeared on 3 May 2007, in Portugal * Maria McCann (born 1956), English novelist * Martin McCann, multiple people * Michael McCann, multiple people * Neal McCann (1800–1866), American slave trader *

Neil McCann Neil Doherty McCann (born 11 August 1974) is a Scottish Association football, football pundit, former professional Association football, player and former Manager (association football), manager. He has recently worked as a pundit for BBC Scotla ...

(born 1974), Scottish footballer * Niamh McCann, multiple people * Owen McCann (1907–1994), South African Cardinal * Penny McCann (born 1960), Canadian filmmaker *

Peter McCann Peter James McCann (March 6, 1948 – January 26, 2023) was an American songwriter, musician, lecturer, and songwriters' activist. He was known for writing successful pop-rock and country songs, including his 1977 solo hit " Do You Wanna Make Lo ...

(1948–2023), American singer & songwriter * Peter P. McCann, American philatelist * Rachel McCann (field hockey) (born 1993), New Zealand field hockey player * Renetta McCann (born 1956), American advertising executive *

Rory McCann Rory McCann (born 24 April 1969) is a Scottish actor, best known for portraying Sandor "The Hound" Clegane on the HBO series ''Game of Thrones'', Michael "Lurch" Armstrong in Edgar Wright's crime-comedy ''Hot Fuzz'' (2007), Jurgen the Brutal i ...

(born 1969), Scottish actor * Rory McCann (cricketer) (born 1985), Irish cricketer * Sean McCann, multiple people * Terrence McCann (1934–2006), American wrestler * Terry McCann, fictional character played by

Dennis Waterman Dennis Waterman (24 February 1948 – 8 May 2022) was an English actor and singer. He was best known for his tough-guy leading roles in television series including ''The Sweeney'', ''Minder (TV series), Minder'' and ''New Tricks'', singing the ...

in ''

Minder A minder is the person assigned to guide or escort a visitor, or to provide protection to somebody, or to otherwise assist or take care of something, i.e. a person who " minds". Government-appointed persons to accompany foreign visitors are of ...

People named MacCann

Philip MacCann Philip MacCann is a British author. Born in Manchester, he was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and later studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia under Malcolm Bradbury. His first book, ''The Miracle Shed'' (1995), a collecti ...

(born 1969), Irish short story writer

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcgann Anglicised Irish-language surnames English-language surnames Patronymic surnames

Maccan of Italy

People named McCann

People named MacCann

See also

References