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The last name Gann is anglicized from the old Gaelic-Irish name "Mac Gann", which itself is the version of "Mac Cann", from "mac", son (of) and "cana", wolf-hound. In Irish, Mac Gann is "Mag Annaidh", the prefix, "Mac" changing to "Mag" when before a vowel. The Clan MacCanns were situated in Armagh, on the southern shores of Lough Neagh, and were known as the Lords of Clanbrassil. Donnell Mac Canna was chief of Clanbrassil in 1598. The first recording of the name in England, without the prefix "Mac" which was dropped in England, appears in 1641 when Elizabeth Gann married Robert Shepeard at St. Andrews, Enfield. Earlier spellings of the surname found in records include "Gane", "Gains", "Gayne" and "Gayn". Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to change leading to variants of the original spelling.

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16y ago

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