Canavan

Canavan is a surname, of Irish origin and may have two translations, both Anglicized:

1. "White Head" from O'Ceanndubhain Sept who were hereditary physicians to the O'Flahertys of Connemara. Whitehead and Whitelock are sometimes used in Galway Spelling variations include: Canovan, O'Canavan, Canaman, Kinevan, Kinavan, Kanavan, O'Kennevain.

2. "Black Head" from uiCeanndubhain - descendant of the dark haired one. a byname meaning ‘little black-headed one’, from ceann ‘head’ + dubh ‘black’ + the diminutive suffix -án.[1][2][3][4]

Contents

Famous Canavans

  Gerard Canavan

Titanic sinking

Two Canavans died during the Titanic disaster, Patrick Canavan and Mary Canavan, both of County Mayo.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ Surnames of the United Kingdom, A Concise Etymological Dictionary; Henry Harrison; Vol.1 & 2.; The Eaton Press, 190 Ebury Street, London, S.W; 1912.
  2. ^ Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
  3. ^ http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=O%27Canavan
  4. ^ http://www.searchforancestors.com/surnames/origin/c/canavan.php
  5. ^ Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])

See also

External links