McCann Coat of Arms, Family Crest and McCann Family History

McCann Family History

The McCann ancient family history was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Meaning 'Wolf-Hound', variants of the name McCann include Canny, McGann and Magann. The MacCann's territory was in County Armagh on the shores of Lough Neagh, and they were known as Lords of Clanbrassil. One of these, Amhlaibh MacCanna, who died in 1155, is described by the Four Masters as a 'pillar of chivalry and vigour of Cinel Eoghain', and the last to be mentioned in the Four Masters died in 1260. Donnell MacCanna was Chief of Clanbrassil as late as 1598. The name is still numerous around the Clanbrassil area in modern times. The most noteworthy of the name in recent times is Michael Joseph MacCann, 1824-1883, author of the poem 'O'Donnell Abu'. A County Limerick variation of McCann is Canny.The McCann family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including McCann descendants.