McCann (surname)
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McCann is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Cana, meaning "son of Cana". The Cana particle is a personal name meaning 'wolf cub'.[1]
According to Irish tradition they are descended from Brassil, a grandson of Colla-da-Chrioch, the first king of Airgialla, and as such they and their territory also became known as Clan Breasail. This territory lay to the south of Lough Neagh in modern-day County Armagh and County Tyrone, flanked by the River Bann and River Blackwater. The major family of the name McCann were known as lords of Clanbrassil, they were notably a branch of the Cenel Eoghain, the large group of families claiming descent from Eoghan, of the sons of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Amhlaoibh Mac Cana 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 in County Armagh. The last recorded Chief of the name, Donall MaCanna, was still known as lord of Clanbrassil as late as 1598. [2] The title of lord of Clanbrassil is still held by the family of McCann in the area of County Louth.
The McCann line features in John O' Hart's 19th century pseudo-historical book, Irish pedigrees. In this book, the McCann line along with other surname lines are taken right back to Adam and Eve.
People named McCann
McCann is the surname of Irish origin of several people, including:
- Aaron McCann (born 1983), Irish/Australian filmmaker/comedian
- Austin McCann (born 1980), Scottish footballer
- Bert McCann (born 1932), Scottish footballer
- Bob McCann (born 1964), American basketball player
- Brian McCann (actor) (born 1965), American writer/actor/comedian
- Brian McCann (baseball) (born 1984), American baseball player
- Carole McCann
- Charles McCann (1899–1980), Indian naturalist
- Charles J. McCann (1926–2015), an American college president
- Chris McCann (born 1987), Irish footballer
- Chuck McCann (born 1934), American actor
- Colum McCann (born 1965), Irish writer
- Denise McCann (born 1948) American-Canadian singer/songwriter and CBC Radio contributor
- Dennis P. McCann (born 1961), American painter, printmaker and sculptor
- Donal McCann (1943–1999), Irish actor
- E. Michael McCann (born 1936), an American attorney and politician
- Eamonn McCann (born 1943), Irish journalist, author, and political activist
- Fergus McCann, Scottish-Canadian businessman and entrepreneur
- Gavin McCann (born 1978), English footballer
- Henry McCann (born 1887), Scottish footballer
- Howie McCann (born 1956), American baseball player and coach; father of Brian
- Hugh McCann (born 1954), Scottish footballer
- Kevin McCann (born 1987), Scottish footballer
- Gerald McCann (born 1950), American politician
- Gordon J. McCann Canadian horse trainer
- Grant McCann (born 1980), Northern Irish footballer
- Jack McCann (1910–1972), British politician
- James McCann (disambiguation), multiple people by the name of James or Jim
- Jared McCann (born 1996), Canadian ice hockey player
- Joe McCann (1947–1972), Irish Republican Army member
- John P. McCann (born 1952), American writer and producer
- Kerryn McCann (born 1967), Australian runner
- Les McCann (born 1935), American musician
- Lila McCann (born 1981), American country music singer
- Madeleine McCann (born 2003), British girl who disappeared on 3 May 2007, in Portugal
- Maria McCann (born 1956), English novelist
- Martin McCann (singer), Irish singer
- Martin McCann (actor) (born 1983), Northern Irish actor
- Michael McCann (composer)
- Michael McCann (field hockey), Australian field hockey striker
- Neil McCann (born 1974), Scottish footballer
- Owen McCann (1907–1994), South African Cardinal
- Peter McCann (born 1950), American singer & songwriter
- Peter P. McCann of University Park, Florida
- Rory McCann (cricketer) (born 1985), Irish cricketer
- Rory McCann Scottish actor
- Sean McCann (actor) (born 1940s), Canadian
- Séan McCann (musician) (born 1970s), Canadian
- Terry McCann (wrestler)
- Tim McCann (director)
- Timothy J. McCann (fl. 2000s), archivist
See also
- Dick McCann Memorial Award, for football reporting
- McCann Field House
- McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal
- McGann
References
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.
Macan, John David (1997) MacCana of Clanbrassil an ancestral and family history, Published by John Macan, Queensland.
