Show ContentsCannavan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Cannavan family

The surname Cannavan was first found in Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they held a family seat as hereditary physicians to the O'Flahertys. Traditionally, this great sept is descended through the Fihillys from Muredach Maolleathan the 16th Christian King of Connacht. Irish history was greatly influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost indistinguishable.

Early History of the Cannavan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cannavan research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cannavan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cannavan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Canavan, O'Canavan, Canaman, Kinevan, Kinavan, Kanavan, O'Kennevain and many more.

Early Notables of the Cannavan family

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


Cannavan migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cannavan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Cannavan, aged 27, who arrived in Maine in 1812 1
  • Thomas Cannavan, who arrived in New York in 1832
  • Martin Cannavan, who settled in Dubuque Co., IA in 1832
  • Richard Cannavan, who settled in Philadelphia in 1867

Cannavan migration to Australia +

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

Cannavan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Mary Cannavan, (b. 1767), aged 59, Irish country servant who was convicted in Carlow, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2


  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. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers


Houseofnames.com on Facebook