Show ContentsClanchy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish surnames in use today are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Clanchy originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Fhlannchaidh. The exact meaning of this name is undetermined; it can be translated as "son of Fhlannchadh," where "flann" means "reddish" or "ruddy." However, whether "caidh" denotes warrior as has been asserted is unknown.

Early Origins of the Clanchy family

The surname Clanchy was first found in Counties Clare and Leitrim. The more important of the two MacClancy septs were a branch of the MacNamaras and were from the north of County Clare, where they gave their name to Cathermacclancy. They traced their lineage from the Heber kings, and provided hereditary brehons (judges) to the O'Briens. They were most numerous in County Clare and the neighboring counties of Galway and Tipperary. The other sept of MacClancys were indigenous to Leitrim, and were Chiefs of Darty or Rosclogher. 1

Early History of the Clanchy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Clanchy research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Clanchy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Clanchy Spelling Variations

Names written in official documents were generally spelt as they sounded, leading to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion in records of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Clanchy that are preserved in documents of the family history are Clancy, Clancey, Clanchey, Clanchy, Clansey and many more.

Early Notables of the Clanchy family

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


United States Clanchy migration to the United States +

Irish families began to immigrate to British North America and the United States in the 18th century, but the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. The earlier settlers came to North America after a great deal of consideration and by paying relatively high fees for their passage. These settlers were primarily drawn by the promise of land. Those later settlers that came during the 1840's were trying to escape the conditions of poverty, starvation, disease, and death that had stricken Ireland. Due to the enormity of their numbers and the late date of their arrival, these immigrants primarily became hired laborers instead of homesteading settlers like their predecessors. An exhaustive search of immigration and passenger lists has revealed many Irish immigrants North America bearing the name Clanchy:

Clanchy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Richard Clanchy, who settled in New York with his wife and eight children in 1820

Australia Clanchy migration to Australia +

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

Clanchy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • George Clanchy, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Birman" in 1840 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Clanchy (post 1700) +

  • Ms. Kate Clanchy M.B.E. (b. 1965), born in Glasgow, Scotland, Scottish Poet, Freelance Writer and teacher, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Literature 3


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BIRMAN 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Birman.htm
  3. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists


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