A BRIEF HISTORY of the

McCANN CLAN AND THE SURNAME

The McCanns, according to tradition, are a Milesian people descended from Colla-da-Chrioch,the first king of Orghilla or Oriel. The kingdom of Oriel encompassed the land from County Donegal to County Louth. Oriel is almost synonymous with Ulster. Colla-da-Chrioch, a southern conqueror of Ulster, was one of the three Collas. The identitiy of the folks who lived in Oriel is shrouded in mystery and disgreement among historians. Historians who give credence to thier existence, generally place Colla-da-Chrioch's conquest of Ulster in 331 AD. Some disagree placing it anywhere in the succeeding 100 years. Some scholars feel that the three Collas never existed. The McCanns are said to have descended from Breasail, a grandson of Colla-da-Chrioch.

It is well accepted that the McCanns originated on the banks of Lough Neagh; they were called the lords of Clan Breasail. Over time, this district was sometimes referred to as Clanbrassil, and Breasal Macha and was located on the southern shores of Lough Neagh. On a present day map Breasal Macha would cover the current baronies of Oneilland East, Oneilland West and Middle Dungannon. The first two are located in present day County Armagh and the third in County Tyrone. These geopolitical divisions (counties) were not created until late in the sixteenth century and therefor did not exist in the early days of the McCann clan. Notwithstanding this fact, McCann is thought of as a County Armagh sept.

The McCann surname is considered to be among the earliest hereditary surnames in the world. Of course at the time of Colla-da-Chrioch's grandson, surnames were not in use. Ireland was one of the first countries in Europe to adopt the use of hereditary surnames. O'Cleary (O' Clerigh) was the first known Irish surname dating back to A.D. 916. The surname McCann began to be used in the 12^th Century. Its original form was Mac Anna and it means "son of Annadh", which was the given name of an early McCann chieftain.

The surname has taken many forms over the years: MacCann, Macann, Macan, McCan, McGann, Mac Anna, MacCanna, Cann, Canny, McCanney, Macan, Makan, Mican, and McKann. My great grandmother was listed as McGaian in the Solano County, California Bride's Index, owing mainly to her prospective husband's heavy Irish brogue.

Historian, John O'Hart, in his Irish Pedigrees, lists Cana (Annadh) as a younger brother of Donal, who is #103 on the McMahon, of County Monaghan, pedigree and as an ancestor of the McCanns.

The following is O'Hart's account of the McCann pedigree, from which we all descend:

Sources:

O'Hart, Irish Pedigrees, Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Dublin: 1892, ISBN 08063-0737/4, Set number ISBN 08063-1259/9, V. I

Matthews, Anthony Origin of the McCanns, Drogheda, Ireland Second Edition 1978