Surname McCannon - Meaning and Origin

McCannon: What does the surname McCannon mean?

The surname McCannon is of Irish origins and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Canann, meaning 'son of Canann'. This surname is a patronymic, indicating descent or lineage from an ancestor named Canann. The exact meaning or nature of the original Gaelic name Canann is unclear, but it may relate to an old Gaelic word for ‘wolf cub’, ‘whelp’, or ‘young warrior’. Surnames in Ireland often originated from ancestral nicknames, patronyms, or locations, and were often utilized to denote family relationships and lineages. Thus, a bearer of the surname McCannon is theoretically a descendant of a person named Canann. Like many Irish surnames, the spelling and pronunciation of the name have evolved over time and geographical location, resulting in different variations. Noteworthy people with the last name McCannon include Rebecca McCannon, a Canadian curler, and Billy McCannon, a Scottish footballer.

McCannon: Where does the name McCannon come from?

The last name McCannon is of Irish origin. This surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Canann," which means "son of Canann". The personal name Canann is derived from the word "cano," meaning wolf cub. Surnames, such as McCannon, became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. They originated to serve as a practical way of distinguishing individuals with the same name.

The surname McCannon, like many Gaelic surnames, was initially found in County Donegal, located in the Northwestern part of Ireland. From there, it spread to other parts of Ireland and to other countries, particularly Scotland.

Today, as a result of immigration over centuries, McCannon can now be found in countries all over the world. However, most bearers of the name McCannon are found in the United States and the United Kingdom due to large populations of Irish and Scottish immigrants and their descendants. In regional terms, the name McCannon remains common in Irish counties such as Donegal. Still, it is also particularly prevalent in areas of the US and UK where Irish and Scottish immigrants historically settled. Despite its distribution, McCannon is still considered a relatively rare surname.

Variations of the surname McCannon

The surname McCannon is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Canann" or "Mac Cannan," which means "son of Canann." The name Canann itself may be of ecclesiastical origin, meaning "church-lover," or it may be a derivative of the pre-10th Century Gaelic "cean," meaning "head or leader."

As a result of emigration and evolution over time, several variants and spellings of the McCannon surname have emerged. Some of these include: McCannan, McCannen, McCanen, McCannion, McCannon, McCankan, Maccannon, MacCannon, MacCannan, MacCannen, MacCannion and MacCanen.

Other variations of the surname were created by the archaic phonetic spelling system used by scribes and church officials in the middle ages. Without standardized spelling rules, scribes often spelled names as they were pronounced, which resulted in different spellings in different documents. For example, some sources list the surname with an "Ó" prefix as Ó Canann or even Ó Cannan.

In some cases, people may also choose to Anglicize or Americanize the surname by dropping the Mac or Mc prefix, resulting in Cannon as a surname of the same origin.

Famous people with the name McCannon

• Stretch McCannon: Stretch is a professional US basketball player who plays as a shooting guard. He is currently on the Free Agency and formerly played for the Boston Celtics.
• Jake McCannon: Jake is best known for his single “Mr. Brightside” which earned him a Grammy nomination. Jake is an up and coming R&B singer.
• Bernie McCannon: Bernie is a former professional American football player and was a tight end for the Chicago Bears from 1987-1990.
• Mark McCannon: Mark is a former professional baseball player and was a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox from 1992-1995.
• Marshall McCannon: Marshall is a professional surfer and competed in numerous major surf competitions such as the Pipe Masters, the US Open of Surfing, and the Billabong Pro.
• Lisa McCannon: Lisa is an actress best known for her roles in films such as “Transformers” and “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1.”
• Pamela McCannon: Pamela is a former US women’s national team soccer player and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
• Terry McCannon: Terry is a prominent advocate for the rights of LGBTQ individuals and founded the McCannon Foundation which works to promote equality and acceptance of LGBTQ individuals.
• Will McCannon: Will is an established lawyer and was appointed as the US Ambassador to Portugal by President Donald Trump in 2018.
• John McCannon: John is an award-winning Peace Corps volunteer known for his work in Africa with refugees.

Other surnames

McCannMcCanney