Can History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The history of the Can family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in north Dorset and Cornwall area of England. The name is a reference to the family's tenure of residence in Caen, near Calvados, Normandy. The name is derived from the Old English word canne which literally means "a can or cup" but is used topographically to mean someone who lived in a hollow or deep valley. 1
Early Origins of the Can family
The surname Can was first found in north Dorset where Cann is a village and in 2001 had a population of 955. The Domesday Book lists Cann Orchard in what is now Cornwall, as land held by Aelfric, an undertenant of the Count of Mortain. At that time, there was land enough for two ploughs, two acres of woodland and ten acres of pasture. 2
Early History of the Can family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Can research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1100 is included under the topic Early Can History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Can Spelling Variations
Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Cann, Caen, Can and others.
Early Notables of the Can family
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was
- Sir Robert Cann, conjecturally descended from King Henry 1st
Can migration to the United States +
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Can or a variant listed above were:
Can Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Calebb Can, aged 11, who arrived in New England in 1635 3
Can Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Alexander Can, who arrived in New London, Connecticut in 1811 3
- Diego Can, who landed in America in 1812 3
- Mr. Can, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 3
- Patrick Can, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1858 3
Can migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Can Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- Josh Can, aged 30, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1864
Can migration to West Indies +
The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association.
4Can Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
- Andrew Can, aged 23, who landed in Barbados in 1635 3
Contemporary Notables of the name Can (post 1700) +
- Alexandra Can (1952-2023), Moldovan politician. A member of the National Liberal Party, she served as Minister of Industry and Trade from March to December 1999
The Can Motto +
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Perimus licitis
Motto Translation: We perish by what is lawful.
Citations +
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- 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)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies