Surname McCan - Meaning and Origin
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McCan: What does the surname McCan mean?
The surname McCan is of Scottish origin, and derived from the Gaelic personal name MacGille chathain. This name can be translated to mean ‘son of the servant or devotee of St. Catan’. The Catan referred to in the name is most likely the early saint Caittan.
The surname is also recorded as MacCahan, MacKehane, MacKehern and Makkechun. In different parts of Scotland the spelling and pronunciation of the name has varied.
McCans were among the earliest settlers in parts of what is now the United States, including Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina in the 1700s. The name McCan is also found in Ireland associated with an ancient sept in Tyrone, and it is believed that many of the McCans who emigrated to the United States first settled in Ireland after fleeing Scotland due to religious persecution.
The McCans were also some of the early pioneers of Canada, with many settling in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In Australian records, McCans arrived as convicts in the 1800s, having been convicted of crimes such as theft and assault.
Today, the McCan surname is most common in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Variants of the name can be found around the world, particularly in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCan: Where does the name McCan come from?
The last name McCan is most commonly found today in Ireland and the United Kingdom. McCan is an Irish surname, meaning 'son of the fair-haired one', and is derived from either the Gaelic Maciain or Mac Cana. In Ireland, the name is found mainly in Ulster – particularly in counties Monaghan, Donegal, Armagh, and Down. In the United Kingdom, McCan is most commonly found in Northern Ireland. It is also seen in Scotland, particularly in Aberdeenshire, and the Shetland Islands.
Although the spelling of the surname varies, variants include McCann, MacCann, MacCana, MacCannell, MacCann, MacKane, and McKane.
In the United States, the surname can be found in many states, albeit in small numbers. California hosts the greatest number of McCan families, followed closely by Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. In Canada, the last name is mainly found in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
The great majority of present-day McCan families in the Anglosphere can trace their lineage back to Ireland, as McCan is a distinctively Irish surname. The name is still quite popular in Northern Ireland, and has been adopted by immigrants of other nationalities. Outside of the British Isles, the name is an uncommon one, and is likely to slowly decline over time.
Variations of the surname McCan
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname McCan include McCann, MacCan, MacCann, MacCannell, MacCannel, McCannon, McCannell, McCannell, and MacKane.
The surname McCan originated in Ireland, and is historically linked to the Irish-Gaelic name Mc Cann, which originally meant "son of the devout one". It can be found in various regions across the world, including Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada, and the United States.
In its various spellings, the surname comes in two particular patterns. The Scottish form often has a Mac prefix, with accompaniments such as MacCann or MacCannell. The Irish form often adds an O or an N to the end of the surname, with accompaniments such as McCann or McCannell. The latter of these has become exceedingly popular in the United States in recent years.
The usual forms of the name have been substituted in many cases, due to phonetic variations or erroneous transcriptions concerning differently spelled names. Examples of these substitutions include McCormack, Maccormick, and McCammon.
Similarly, the surname has been adapted to different dialects across the Atlantic Ocean. For instance, in Scottish-Gaelic, the name is pronounced 'Mac Can.' Whereas in America, the name is pronounced either as McCann (with the ‘c’ sounding like a ‘k’),or as Mac Cann.
In many cases, McCan has been found to be used as a footnote in a genealogical report. This could be attributed to some of the name variations listed above. The name has changed in spelling and pronunciation throughout the centuries, so it is possible to find records belonging to people from the same family tree under different variations of the same name.
Famous people with the name McCan
- Eoin MacCan: professional swimmer
- Frank McCan: American NFL coach
- Colin MacCan: Scottish historian
- Jim MacCan: former British Royal Navy officer
- Wilma McCan: American actress
- Brenda McCan: country singer
- Ferghal McCan: Irish Gaelic footballer
- Jaime McCan: professional Rugby player
- Rachel McCan: public speaker and founder of energycompany Uisce
- Lee McCan: English musician