Surname McKann - Meaning and Origin

McKann: What does the surname McKann mean?

The last name McKann is of Scottish origin, and derives from the words "Mac" and "Cann," which could be translated as either "son of Can" or "son of Kenneth." It is thought to have originated during the time when surnames first made their appearance in Scotland and were used to identify individuals by their ancestry.

The surname McKann is commonly found in western Scotland, especially in the extreme northwest, as well as other areas of the United Kingdom. It is thought to have been given originally to families living in the northwest region, but its popularity has spread throughout the country.

The etymology of the name McKann is interesting, because many researchers believe that "Mac" is derived from the Irish word for "son" and "Cann" comes from the more ancient Celtic word for "small" or "end." This could be interpreted as signifying the youngest member of a clan or family, and in some cases the smallest in stature.

Throughout history, there have been many notable prominent figures with the surname McKann, including politicians, authors, and athletes. These individuals have left their mark and enhanced the reputation of the name, making it a desirable family name for many generations to come.

McKann: Where does the name McKann come from?

The last name McKann is commonly found today in several different countries, mostly in English-speaking parts of the world. In the United States, it's most concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest, particularly in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Additionally, McKann is also common in Canada, throughout the United Kingdom, and in Australia. In Scotland, McKann and its variants—such as M'Kann and MacKann—rank among the region's 100 most common surnames.

In terms of etymology, it is considered to have derived from the Old Irish Mac Cahan, which translates to “son of Cathan”. The name can also be seen to have derived from a nickname for someone who, quite literally, had hairy or rough skin.

In modern times, members of the McKann family tend to be highly associated with education and the arts. Indeed, many well-known people with this last name—including Australian TV presenter Mike McKann, comedic actor John McKann, and U.S. Congressman Alan McKann—have achieved notable success in their respective career fields.

It's worth noting, however, that due to its Irish origin, the last name McKann can also be found in Irish Celtic-language contexts such as Irish Gaelic (or Gaeilge). Here, the spelling is often "Mac Cathain" or "Mac Cahan". In any case, it is found throughout much of the English-speaking world today, and continues to have longstanding associations of great success.

Variations of the surname McKann

The surname McKann is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic-Irish name Mac Canna, which is derived from the personal name Canna. The Mac and Mc prefixes both mean son of, so the surname McKann literally translates to “son of Canna.”

The most common variants of the surname McKann include McKenney, MacCanna, MacKenna, MacKanney, MacKan, MacCann, MacKane, MacKanny, MaceCanna, Macann, MacKanna, and MacKannay.

Other spellings of the surname McKann include M’Kenn, MacKann, MacKane, MacKee, MacKer, MacKes, and MacKenney. This surname is also occasionally anglicized as Kenn, Kene, and Kenney.

In addition to the various spellings, McKann is sometimes anglicized into other variants or surnames, such as Heaney, Heany, Heeney, Heene, Heanny, Heany, Hanes, and Hains.

All of these surnames and variants are of the same origin, as they all stem from the Gaelic name Mac Canna, which means “son of Canna”.

Famous people with the name McKann

• Michael McKann: Former English professional footballer
• Ginni Mackann: British actor and filmmaker
• Paul McKenna: English hypnotist and media palace individual
• David McKann: Australian poet and biographer
• Paul McKann: English Ironman athlete
• Rufus McKann: British actor
• Patrick McKann: Irish baritone singer
• Ryan McKann: British film and television actor
• David McKann: Canadian former professional ice hockey player
• Bret McKann: Former American football running back
• Jason McKann: Former Scottish professional football
• Eleanor McKann: American jazz vocalist
• Cheryl McKann: Award-winning Scottish children’s playwright
• John McKann: British playwright and writer
• Martin McKann: Irish Gaelic football player
• Ethan McKann: Canadian actor and singer
• Gavin McKann: British explorer, author, and adventurer
• Susie McKann: Award-winning American Actress
• Benjamin McKann: British music producer
• Cameron McKann: Australian drummer and singer
• Douglas McKann: British professional boxer
• Elizabeth McKann: American artist
• Edward McKann: American tv and movie actor
• Liam McKann: Canadian actor and comedian
• Oliver McKann: British engineer and inventor
• Jaden McKann: American basketball player
• Madison McKann: American vocalist and songwriter
• Daniel McKann: British painter and esoteric artist
• Tim McKann: Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist
• Rory McKann: Scottish professional footballer

Other surnames

McKane