Show ContentsMacCann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Throughout history, very few Irish surnames have exclusively maintained their original forms. Before being translated into English, MacCann appeared as Mac Cana, which is derived from the word cana, which means wolf cub.

Early Origins of the MacCann family

The surname MacCann was first found in County Armagh (Irish: Ard Mhacha) located in the province of Ulster in present day Northern Ireland, at Clanbrasil, a region on the southern shore of Lough Neagh.

The family supplanted the O'Graveys at the time of Strongbow's Anglo-Norman invasion in 1172 as lords of this area and became known as the Lords of Clanbrassil. One of the earliest records of the name was Amhlaibh Mc Canna (died 1155), described by the Four Masters as "pillar of chivalry and vigour of Cinel Eoghin" [1]

Early History of the MacCann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacCann research. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1155, 1598 and 1718 are included under the topic Early MacCann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacCann Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname MacCann that are preserved in archival documents are MacCann, MacCanna, MacCan, MacAnn, MacAn and others.

Early Notables of the MacCann family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was

  • Amhlaibh MacCann (d. 1155), leader of the Clann Owen, a huge consortium of Clanns


United States MacCann migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name MacCann to North America:

MacCann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Daniel MacCann, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 [2]
  • William MacCann, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1815 [2]
  • John MacCann, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 [2]
  • Owen MacCann, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 [2]
  • Bernard MacCann, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia MacCann migration to Australia +

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

MacCann Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name MacCann (post 1700) +

  • Hugh MacCann, Irish Diplomat
  • James MacCann, Clergyman


The MacCann 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: Crescit sub pondere virtus
Motto Translation: Virtue thrives under oppression.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden


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