McGann Family Crest, Coat of Arms & McGann Name Origin

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Origin of the Name McGann

The ancient history of the name McGann was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. Meaning 'wolf cub', variants of the Irish name McGann include Canny, McCann and Magann. These names are derived from the Gaelic MacCana and MagAnnaidh septs. The territory of the MacCana sept was in County Armagh on the shores of Lough Neagh, where they were known as the 'Lords of Clanbrassil'. Amhlaibh MacCanna, who died in 1155, is described in the ancient manuscript 'the Four Masters' as a 'pillar of chivalry and vigour of Cinel Eoghain'. A Donnell MacCanna was recorded as being the Chief of Clanbrassil as late as the year 1598. The name is still numerous around the Clanbrassil area in modern times. A noteworthy bearer of the name in recent times was Michael Joseph MacCann, 1824-1883, who was author of the poem 'O'Donnell Abu'. The MagAnnaidh sept was located in Connaught Province where it was more often anglicized as McGann rather than McCann.