Canavan

Canavan is a surname of Irish origin with two possible translations, both Anglicized:

1. "White Head" from O'Ceanndubhain Sept, who were hereditary physicians to the O'Flahertys of Connemara. Whitehead and Whitelock are sometimes used in Galway. Spelling variations include: Canovan, O'Canavan, Canaman, Kinevan, Kinavan, Kanavan, O'Kennevain.[1]

2. "Black Head" from uiCeanndubhain – descendant of the dark haired one, a byname meaning ‘little black-headed one’, from ceann ‘head’ + dubh ‘black’ + the diminutive suffix -án.[2][3][4][5]

People with the surname

See also

  • All pages with titles containing Canavan

References

  1. "Canavan Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms".
  2. Surnames of the United Kingdom, A Concise Etymological Dictionary; Henry Harrison; Vol.1 & 2.; The Eaton Press, 190 Ebury Street, London, S.W; 1912.
  3. Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
  4. "Surname Database: O'Canavan Last Name Origin". The Internet Surname Database. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  5. "Canavan Surname Origin & Family History". Searchforancestors.com. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.