McCann (surname)

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 Breasail, 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 McCanns are also stated as having had a castle at Portadown in County Armagh.

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:

See also

References

Macan, John David (1997) MacCana of Clanbrassil an ancestral and family history, Published by John Macan, Queensland.