O'Kanan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of O'Kanan

While the Anglicized versions of Irish names are often familiar to people, their Irish Gaelic heritage is often unknown. The original Gaelic form of the name O'Kanan is Ó Canain, from the word "cano," which means "wolf cub." 1

Early Origins of the O'Kanan family

Early History of the O'Kanan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Kanan research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1659 and 1687 are included under the topic Early O'Kanan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Kanan Spelling Variations

The archives that survive today demonstrate the difficulty experienced by the scribes of the Middle Ages in their attempt to record these names in writing. Spelling variations of the name O'Kanan dating from that time include Cannon, O'Cannon, MacCannon, Cannan, Cannen, Cannin, MacCannan, McCannon, McCannan and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Kanan family

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

Migration of the O'Kanan family

A massive wave of Irish immigrants hit North America during the 19th century. Although many early Irish immigrants made a carefully planned decision to leave left Ireland for the promise of free land, by the 1840s immigrants were fleeing a famine stricken land in desperation. The condition of Ireland during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s can be attributed to a rapidly expanding population and English imperial policies. Those Irish families that arrived in North America were essential to its rapid social, industrial, and economic development. Passenger and immigration lists have revealed a number of early Irish immigrants bearing the name O'Kanan: Edward and Ann Cannon who settled in Virginia in 1646; John Cannon settled in Barbados in 1660; another John settled in Jamaica in 1716; Alexander, Andrew, Anthony, Barney, Bernard, Bridget, Charles, Cornelius, Daniel Dennis, Edward, Ennis, George, Hugh, James, John, Mannis, Michael, Neal, Owen, Patrick, Philip, Thomas and William Cannon all settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1772 and 1866.