CANN
Cann is a surname of predominantly English origin, with documented connections to Ireland and other parts of the former British Isles. The name can be traced back to the early medieval period, where it appears in various documentary sources under different spellings such as Canne and Can. The earliest surviving record dates to 1276, when a Richard de Canne was mentioned in the Oxfordshire Hundred Rolls during the reign of King Edward I.
There are several plausible etymological explanations for the surname. One theory proposes a topographical origin, with the name deriving from the Old English word canna, meaning a ridge or boundary. This interpretation suggests that early bearers of the name resided near a prominent geographical feature such as a ridge or valley. Another possibility points to a locational source, specifically a settlement called Cann in Dorset, recorded as Canna in the early eleventh century; here the word canna was used to denote a deep valley. Both of these meanings are consistent with the broader use of canna in Old English to describe significant natural landmarks.
Alternatively, the surname may derive from the Old English word canne meaning "white" or "light-coloured", and thus functioned as a nickname for someone with a fair complexion. In a different vein, a medieval occupational form is also recorded – the name could have been applied to a canner or maker and seller of iron pots, as evidenced by a Bartholomew Canne listed in the 1327 Suffolk Subsidy Rolls. These multiple origins imply that the surname Cann developed independently in several local contexts throughout England.
In Ireland, the name appears as an anglicised form of the Gaelic personal name Canán, which translates to "wolf cub". The adoption of such animal-based names was common in Gaelic tradition, often chosen to convey attributes of strength or courage. Over time, Gaelic families bearing the name Canán or its derivative Mccann (from Mac Cana) may have adopted the spelling Cann when integrating into English-speaking societies.
Modern demographic data reflect the surname’s relative rarity and geographic concentration. As of 2014, there were approximately 2,596 individuals with the surname Cann registered in England and Wales. The name also exists in Australia, with about 1,218 bearers, making Australia the largest overseas population centre for the surname. In the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and other English-speaking countries, the surname remains uncommon but observable, typically in small clusters that correspond to historical migration patterns from South West England, particularly Devon and Cornwall.
Variants of the surname also appear in records, and these reflect the influence of different linguistic traditions. In English sources Canne and pluralised forms such as Canns are recorded, whereas Germanic variants like Kahn or Kann and Irish forms such as Kane and O'Cahan indicate parallel developments in other regions. The presence of locational surnames such as Cannell, Caen, and Caine further underlines the complex interplay between place names, occupational designations, and personal characteristics in the evolution of the surname Cann.
Typical given names associated with the Cann surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Amanda
- Elizabeth
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Rebecca
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
- Canner
- Can
- Caan
- Cahn
- Cain
- Caine
- Cana
- Cains
- Caines
- Cainn
- Caina
- Canna
- Canne
- Cane
- Canes
- Cani
- Canie
- Canm
- Cannah
- Cannas
- Cannay
- Cannee
- Cannes
- Cannew
- Canney
- Cannie
- Cannis
- Cannow
- Canns
- Cannt
- Canny
- Cano
- Canoe
- Cans
- Canu
- Cany
- Cayne
- Kahnn
- Kan
- Kann
- Kanne
- Khann
- Cagna
- Cagni
- Canaii
- Canay
- Cand
- Caney
- Cang
- Cank
- Cannce
- Canoo
- Canow
- Cant
- Caynes
- Kaan
- Kahn
- Kain
- Kane
- Kanna
- Kanno
- Kayn
- Kean
- Cone
- Coon
- Cownie
- Ghani
- Gunn
- Gwyn
- Gwynn
- Gwynne
- Kanu
- Keen
- Keene
- Kenn
- Keown
- Kewn
- Kiani
- Kyne
- Quan
- Quinn
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Cann in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 5,138 people named Cann in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,838th most common surname in Britain. Around 79 in a million people in Britain are named Cann.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Cann
- John Du Cann - Rock guitarist (1946 to 2011)
- Edward du Cann - Politician (1924 to 2017)
- Jamie Cann - Politician (1946 to 2001)
- Darren Cann - Football referee
- Sid Cann - Football manager (1911 to 1996)
- Elizabeth Cann - Badminton player
- Kate Cann - Writer
- Darren Cann - Football player
- Harry Cann - Football player (1905 to 1980)
- Lionel Cann - Bermudian cricketer
- Maurice Cann - Former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer (1911 to 1989)
- George Cann - Australian politician (1871 to 1948)
- Mike Cann - Welsh cricketer
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.