Show ContentsCoonan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Coonan comes from the Irish surname O Cuanain (O'Conein and MacConein) and is derived from the Irish Cuinin for "rabbit", son of Dugal. They claim descendancy through the Donnelly line of the native Irish.

Early Origins of the Coonan family

The surname Coonan was first found in County Tipperary (Irish: Thiobraid Árann), established in the 13th century in South-central Ireland, in the province of Munster, where Isaac O Cuanain was Bishop of Roscrea from 1161 to 1168. But the name was scattered throughout Ireland, some bearers being recorded in Kildare and the surrounding counties in the 16th century. Bearers of the name Coonan were also present in County Sligo, where O'Cunane was a principal Irish name in the census of 1659. The two baronies of County Leitrim which border County Sligo, had the name O'Conan listed in the same census.

Early History of the Coonan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coonan research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1666 is included under the topic Early Coonan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coonan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Conan, Coonan, Coonane, O'Conan, O'Cunane and others.

Early Notables of the Coonan family

More information is included under the topic Early Coonan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Coonan migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Coonan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Nancy Coonan, who landed in Baltimore in 1826
  • Michael Coonan, who arrived in New York in 1855
  • Michael Coonan, aged 18, who arrived in New York, NY in 1855 [1]
  • Frank Coonan, who was naturalized in New Orleans between 1863 and 1868
  • Lawrence Coonan, who was naturalized in Washington in 1895

Canada Coonan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Coonan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Coonan, who was recorded in the 1871 census in Ontario

Australia Coonan migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Coonan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Coonan, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Wanderer" [2]
  • Mary Coonan, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Wanderer" [2]
  • Sarah Coonan, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Wanderer" [2]
  • John Coonan, aged 28, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Wanderer" in 1851 [2]
  • Sarah Coonan, aged 22, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Wanderer" in 1851 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Coonan (post 1700) +

  • Helen Coonan (b. 1947), former Australian politician, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (2004 to 2007)
  • Daniel Coonan (b. 1974), English stage and television actor
  • Donal Coonan (b. 1981), English actor, writer and presenter
  • Helen Lloyd Coonan (b. 1947), Australian politician
  • Dorothy Coonan Wellman (1913-2009), American actress and dancer

HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Bevis Royal Coonan (1920-1941), Australian Acting Leading Seaman from Mount Hawthorne, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [3]


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WANDERER 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Wanderer.htm
  3. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp


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