Surname Callanan - Meaning and Origin
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Callanan: What does the surname Callanan mean?
The last name Callanan is an Irish surname, which means “follower of the warrior”. This name originates from the pre-10th century Gaelic O'Cathalain, which is derived from a personal name Cathalan, meaning “battler” or “warrior”.
This surname was found mainly in County Cork in the south of Ireland and in Clare and Limerick in the north-west of the country. It was one of the most widely spread Gaelic names in the early 17th century, with Callanans comprising around one sixth of all surnames in Munster Province at that time.
The Callanans were often associated with land ownership, with one family noted as being stewards to the Earl of Ormande in the 16th century. It is believed that the Callanan name has developed several regional variations across Ireland, including Callenan, Callanan, Caelainn, Cealain, Callinan and Calanan.
Today, people with the surname of Callanan can be found all over the world due to immigration and emigration. Despite its Irish heritage, the surname has been used in the United States for many years, and several notable people have the Callanan name, including Mary Cline Callanan (an American politician) and John Callanan (an Irish poet).
Order DNA origin analysisCallanan: Where does the name Callanan come from?
The last name Callanan is a common Irish surname. This old Irish name is a corruption of the original name, Ó Ceallacháin, which means descendant of Ceallachan. It is usually found in the West of Ireland, particularly in Counties Kerry and Galway. It's been estimated that around 12,000 people in Ireland today bear the name Callanan.
The name is also common in the USA, particularly in New England states like Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut; as well as in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and California. Around 4,000 people bear the Callanan name in the US. Researchers believe that native Irish immigrants brought the name with them when they traveled to the US during the 19th century.
The Callanan name is found in other countries beyond Ireland and the US . For example, in Australia, Canada, and the UK, the Callanan name is found with local variants including, Callinan, Kellinan, and Callinon.
In summary, the Callanan surname is a common Irish name found primarily in the West of Ireland and at least 4,000 people in the US bear the name. It is also found in other countries across the world with various spelling variations.
Variations of the surname Callanan
The Callanan surname has roots in both Irish and Scottish heritage. In Gaelic, the surname Callanan is derived from the word “O’Cathalain,” meaning "descendant of Cathalain". Variants of the Callanan surname include Callenan, Callenon, Colandene, Colandyne, Kalanan, Kallanan, Kallenan, and Kallinon.
In Ireland, variants of this name are common in Counties Tipperary and Limerick and largely originate from O'Cathalain, the son of Cathalain, who was positioned in the area connecting the two counties in the twelfth century. In Scotland, the variant surname Kallenon was recorded in the 14th century.
In terms of spelling, the variant surnames of Callanan are generally spelled as a combination of the letter "C" (or "K") and the suffix “-enan” or “-anan”. Other rearrangements of spelling such as “-inon” are also used.
Callanan can further be repurposed or adopted as a given name in some cases and may also be spelled as a double-barrel name with the Irish surname McLellan, which is pronounced similarly and is derived from the Gaelic O’Maolmhaolain. In some cases, the surname may also include other suffixes, such as "-on" or "gan".
The surname Callanan is most commonly found in English-speaking countries, particularly in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
Famous people with the name Callanan
- Derval O'Rourke: Irish hurdler, television presenter, and author.
- James Callanan: English Conservative politician and Member of Parliament for the Chingford and Woodford Green constituency since 2005.
- Claire Callanan: Actress, dancer, lyricist, writer, and film producer.
- John Callanan: Irish folk songwriter and poet.
- Patrick Callanan: Irish classical composer.
- M. Quinn Callanan: Retired US Major General in the Army.
- Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain: Irish mathematician, television presenter, and author.
- James Callanan: Canadian actor and writer.
- Ryan Callanan: Artist specializing in collage and installation.
- Maureen Callanan: American actress.