Surname MacCance - Meaning and Origin
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MacCance: What does the surname MacCance mean?
The last name MacCance is believed to be of Irish origins and derived from the Gaelic name Mac Cann, which means son of Ciann. The Ciann part of the name is thought to be derived from "cion" meaning "respect". The MacCance version of the surname is most commonly found in Antrim, Northern Ireland and in other parts of the United Kingdom.
The name is also thought to have a meaning of ‘The Son of Little Cron’ and is seen to be Gaelic in origin, derived from the name Conchubhair. It is believed that this person was the sacred High King of Ireland and was referred to lovingly as little Cron by his people.
The MacCance surname is thought to have been present in Ireland since the 12th century and is associated with the ancient Irish Clann Ui Monach family. The Clann Ui Monach were descended from a variety of kings, chiefs and lords who played a major role in the politics of their times. As a result, many people from this family bore the Irish name MacCance with pride.
Today, the MacCance family can be found in countries all around the world, fully embracing and sharing the Irish heritage that their name represents. The MacCance family is something to be proud of, a reflection of the past and a reminder of the long and storied traditions of Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCance: Where does the name MacCance come from?
The last name MacCance is most common today in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and the United States. The MacCance surname is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Cana, which means a son of Cana. The original roots of the clan come from the MacDonnell, the ancestors of the Irish chieftains, in the twelfth century. The MacDonnells were the ruling family of Ulster, who were based in Downpatrick, and held a number of castle fortifications.
In the United Kingdom, there are the highest concentrations of MacCance living in Scotland, where about 200 households of the surname are found. The MacCance population was also found across regions of Ireland, although more recent research indicates that a majority of these households have been displaced in modern times due to emigration, primarily from the Republic of Ireland to the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In terms of the United States, there are an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 living with the MacCance surname. The highest population numbers are concentrated in the Northeast Region, with New York and Massachusetts having the greatest number of people with the name. In Canada, MacCance is most prevalent in Ontario and British Columbia, as well as the prairie provinces.
In summary, the surname MacCance is most common today in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and the United States. Over time, the MacCance population has experienced a degree of dispersal, leading to the highest concentration of households in the northeastern region of the United States, and parts of Ontario in Canada.
Variations of the surname MacCance
The surname MacCance is an anglicized version of the traditional Irish surname Mac Aonghusa. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic surname Ó hAonghusa, meaning “descendant of Aonghus”. The surname is also sometimes spelled as MacAnse, MacAnce, MacAnce, MacAncy, MacKanse, MacKancey, MacKansy, and MacKance.
Variants of the surname include O' Hennessy, Hennessey, Hensey, Hennes, and Henasy. Hennessy is an very different spelling to the original MacCance, however it has been used often in the US and is believed to be derived from immigrants who may have changed their name during their journey.
Other spellings include O'Hangs, Hens, Hanse, Hangs, and Hansey, all of which are believed to be derivatives of the original MacCance surname.
The McDance and O'Dance variations are also derived from the surname MacCance, which however is rare and limited to U.S immigrants, specifically those from New England.
The surname MacAnce is also derived from MacCance, and is mostly found in Southern Ireland.
The last of the variants and spellings of the MacCance surname is the MacCunce, which is limited to Northern Ireland.
In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin of MacCance, such as MacAnse, MacAnce, MacAnce, MacKanse, O'Hennessy, Hennessy, Hensey, Hennes, Hens, Hanse, Hangs, Henasy, Hansey, McDance, O'Dance, MacAnce, and MacCunce. Most of these surnames are derived from the original MacCance variant, however many of them are rare and limited to certain geographical areas.
Famous people with the name MacCance
- Conor MacCance: actor, best known for his performance in the Netflix fantasy drama series Shadow and Bone
- Gregory MacCance: actor, best known for his performance in the 2014 Bollywood fantasy-adventure film PK
- Anthony MacCance: actor, best known for his supporting role in the 2020 American musical romantic comedy-drama The Prom
- Alan MacCance: author and expert on Victorian England
- Michael MacCance: songwriter and record producer, best known for working on projects by Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lil Nas X, and Ed Sheeran, among others
- Patrick MacCance: Sergeant-at-Arms of the Irish Senate
- Clare MacCance: professional cyclist who won a bronze medal in the 2017 World Championships
- William MacCance: surgeon and professor of clinical medicine
- Siobhan MacCance: scientist specializing in renal diseases
- Edith Prudence MacCance: Scottish writer of adventure stories for children