Origin

McGann is an

Irish surname A formal Irish name consists of a given name and a surname. In the Irish language, surnames are generally patronymic in etymology but are no longer literal patronyms as, for example, most Icelandic names still are. The form of a surname varies ac ...

, derived from the

Gael The Gaels ( ; ga, Na Gaeil ; gd, Na Gàidheil ; gv, Ny Gaeil ) are an ethnolinguistic group native to Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man in the British Isles. They are associated with the Gaelic languages: a branch of the Celtic languag ...

ic ''MagAnnaidh'', an Old Irish translation or sept of the ''

Mac Cana The Mac Cana were a Gaelic Irish clan who held lands in Clancann and Clanbrasil in what is now northern County Armagh, and had the title of 'Lords of Clanbrasil'. It is the origin of the surname McCann. Etymology The name ''Mac Cana'' mea ...

'' clan.

Etymology

The ''Cana'' particle is a personal name meaning ' cub/whelp', although some sources claim it is derived from the personal name ''Annadh''. Due to

anglicization Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by Culture of England, English culture or Culture of the United Kingdom, British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English ...

and Ulster migration the original form ''Mac Cana'' has had many variations, such as MagAnnaidh, MacAnna and MacCanna, later anglicized to McGann and McCann. The name became McGann upon Ulster migration to

Connaught Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Delbh ...

and became Canny and Canney upon Ulster migration to the south (

Leinster Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ir ...

and

Munster Munster ( gle, an Mhumhain or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" ( ga, rí ruirech). Following the ...

Notable people named McGann

* Ambrose McGann, American baseball player * Andrew J. McGann, American politician and businessman *

Bernie McGann Bernard Francis McGann (22 June 1937 – 17 September 2013) was an Australian jazz alto saxophone player. He began his career in the late 1950s and remained active as a performer, composer and recording artist until near the end of his life. McGan ...

, Australian jazz alto saxophone player *

Brad McGann Brad McGann MNZM (22 February 1964 – 2 May 2007), was a New Zealand film director and screenwriter. McGann was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1964. He completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Otago and in 1988 com ...

, New Zealand film director and screenwriter * Ciarán McGann, Irish hurler from Castlelyons, County Cork * Dennis Lawrence "Dan" McGann (1871–1910), American baseball player *

Gary McGann Gary McGann (born August 1950) is an Irish accountant, the chairman of Flutter Entertainment, and former CEO of Smurfit Kappa and Aer Lingus. Education McGann earned a bachelor's degree from University College Dublin and also an MSc in manage ...

(born 1950), Irish businessman *

Jake McGann Jake McGann (born 1990) is an English voice actor who has appeared in '' Doctor Who'' audio dramas. ''Doctor Who'' In 2007, he appeared in two '' Doctor Who'' audio dramas starring his father as the Doctor: ''Immortal Beloved'' and ''The Girl ...

, English actor *

James McGann James G. McGann (1955–2021) was an American academic who was a Senior Lecturer in International Studies, Founder and Director of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania and a Senior Fello ...

(1955–2021), American academic known for research on think tanks *

Jerome McGann Jerome John McGann (born July 22, 1937) is an American academic and textual scholar whose work focuses on the history of literature and culture from the late eighteenth century to the present. Career Educated at Le Moyne College (B.S. 1959), Sy ...

(born 1937), American academic and textual scholar *

John R. McGann John Raymond McGann (December 2, 1924 – January 29, 2002) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, in New York from 1976 to 2000. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the s ...

, American Catholic bishop *

Joseph McGann Joseph McGann (born 1988), who goes under the aliases of Kahn and Gorgon Sound, is a British grime and dubstep record producer and DJ of the Bristol underground scene. Alongside frequent collaborator Neek, he founded record label Bandulu and is ...

, British music producer *

Lawrence E. McGann Lawrence Edward McGann (February 2, 1852 – July 22, 1928), born in Dooghcloon, near Attymon, County Galway, Ireland, was a U.S. Representative from Illinois from 1891 to 1895. He was a Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_ma ...

, American politician *

Oisín McGann Oisín McGann (born 1973) is an Irish writer and illustrator, who writes in a range of genres for children and teenagers, mainly science fiction and fantasy, and has illustrated many of his own short story books for younger readers. As of 5/10/ ...

, Irish writer and illustrator *

Preston McGann Preston McGann is an American football wide receiver for the Orlando Rage. He played college baseball at Seminole Community College and attended Groves High School in Garden City, Georgia. He has also been a member of the Columbus Lions and Pit ...

, American football player The McGann acting family consists of four brothers: *

Joe McGann Joseph McGann (born 24 July 1958) is an English actor. His roles include the lead role of Charlie Burrows, the "housekeeper" in the TV comedy series ''The Upper Hand'' (1990–1996), '' Night and Day'' and his voice role as Sir Gideon Ofnir i ...

Paul McGann Paul John McGann (; born 14 November 1959) is an English actor. He came to prominence for portraying Percy Toplis in the television serial ''The Monocled Mutineer'' (1986), then starred in the dark comedy ''Withnail and I'' (1987), which was a ...

Mark McGann Mark Anthony McGann (born 12 July 1961) is an English actor. Early life He attended the De La Salle Grammar School, Liverpool. Mark's father Joe was a Royal Naval Commando who died in 1984, and his mother Clare was a teacher. His three bro ...

Stephen McGann Stephen Vincent McGann (born 2 February 1963) is a British actor, best known for portraying Dr Patrick Turner in the BBC One medical period drama series ''Call the Midwife''. He is one of a family of acting brothers, the others being Joe, Pau ...

Origin

Etymology

Notable people named McGann

See also