Ganan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of Ganan

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the Ganan family in Ireland was Mag Fhionnain, derived from the word "fionn," which means "fair."

Early Origins of the Ganan family

Early History of the Ganan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ganan research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1798 is included under the topic Early Ganan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ganan Spelling Variations

Names from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name Ganan revealed many variations, including Gannon, Ganon and others.

Early Notables of the Ganan family

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

Migration of the Ganan family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Ganan family relocated to North American shores quite early: Edward, Francis, Hugh, James, John, Michael, Patrick, Thomas and William Gannon who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; Conner Gannon and Mary Gannon arrived in Canada in 1839..