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Scannell History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Scannell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Scannell originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Scannlain or Mac Scannlain, which are both derived from the word "scannal," which means "contention." 1

Early Origins of the Scannell family

The surname Scannell was first found in County Louth (Irish: Lú) the smallest county in Ireland, located on the East coast, in the Province of Leinster. "The Mac Scanlans were a sept of Louth, from whom the ancient locality of Bally Mac Scanlan took its name. The first of the family mentioned by D'Alton is Patrick O'Scanlan, who was made archbishop or Armagh in 1261. " 2 According to O'Hart, the family claim descent from the Heremon Kings of Ireland, more specifically through the O'Shaughnessey pedigree as Tuadan, brother of Duach was the ancestor of O'Scannla which is Anglicized as Scanlan. 3

However, MacLysaght claims that there are two quite distinct septs; the Ó Scannlain of Munster and MacScannlain of Louth. The latter claimed Bally Mac Scanlan (Ballymacscanlan) as their ancient homeland. He continues pointing out that there are six places names Ballymacscanlan throughout Ireland eluding to the family's widespread distribution. 4

Early History of the Scannell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Scannell research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1272 is included under the topic Early Scannell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Scannell Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Scannell were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Scanlan, O'Scannell, O'Scanlan, O'Scanlon, MacScanlan, Scanlin and many more.

Early Notables of the Scannell family

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

Scannell Ranking

In the United States, the name Scannell is the 10,165^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Scannell migration to the United States +

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name Scannell or a variant listed above:

Scannell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Timothy Scannell, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 6

Scannell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Scannell, who landed in Mississippi in 1840 6
Matthew Scannell, who arrived in Mississippi in 1840 6
D Scannell, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 6

Scannell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Scannell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Scannell, aged 31, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Matilda" from Cork, Ireland
Matthew Scannell, aged 22, a carpenter, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Matilda" from Cork, Ireland
Mary Scannell, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Matilda" from Cork, Ireland
Johanna Scannell, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Matilda" from Cork, Ireland
Mary Scannell, aged 4, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Matilda" from Cork, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Scannell migration to Australia +

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

Scannell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Margaret Scannell, (b. 1795), aged 23, Irish nurse maid who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for shop lifting, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Miss Margaret Scannell, (b. 1797), aged 32, Irish servant who was convicted in Cavan, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1831 8
Mr. Timothy Scannell, (b. 1823), aged 15, Irish shoe maker who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 11th May 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9

Scannell migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Scannell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Daniel Scannell, (b. 1842), aged 20, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 10
Mrs. Mary Scannell, British dairymaid travelling from London aboard the ship "Himalaya" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 10th February 1867 10
Mr. John Scannell, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Himalaya" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 10th February 1867 10
Mr. Daniel Scannell, (b. 1851), aged 20, English labourer from Surrey, England, travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship 'Merope' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th August 1871 10
Miss Julia Scannell, (b. 1852), aged 19, English general servant from Surrey, England, travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship 'Merope' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th August 1871 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Scannell (post 1700) +

Susan Scannell (b. 1958), American actress, known for her roles in television soap operas
John J. Scannell (1841-1918), 1st Fire Commissioner of the Consolidated City of New York (1898)
Herb Scannell (b. 1957), American CEO of Next New Networks and former President of Nickelodeon Networks
Tony Scannell (1945-2020), Irish actor best known for his role as DS Ted Roach in ITV's The Bill
Thomas "Tom" Scannell (1925-1994), Irish professional football player, father of Tony Scannell
Sean Scannell (b. 1990), Irish footballer
Vernon Scannell (1922-2007), British poet and author
Damian Scannell (b. 1985), English footballer

Historic Events for the Scannell family +

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Charles Scannell, Irish Fireman from Roberts Cove, Minane Bridge, Cork, Ireland, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 11

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/