McGann
An Irish surname that likely began as a Gaelic family name, often linked to descendants of a man named Gann or a similar personal name.
The #8,547 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 80,131 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McGann is an anglicized Irish surname. In Irish naming patterns, the prefix Mac or Mc means "son of," so the name most likely means "son of Gann" or is connected with a Gaelic personal name of similar form. The historical sources you provided place it alongside variants such as Magann and MacGan, which supports a shared Irish-Gaelic origin, though the exact underlying personal name is not fully certain from these excerpts alone.
History
The name appears in Irish surname tradition in several closely related spellings, including MacGann, Magann, MacGan, and MacGannon. It also shows up in 19th-century lists of surnames found in Boston, reflecting Irish migration to North America. Today McGann remains a distinctly Irish surname, especially in Ireland and among diaspora communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The spelling can vary quite a bit in older records, because Irish surnames were often recorded phonetically by English-speaking clerks.
From the historical record
“Gawley. rriAs Atitiai-d, Magan, MacGann. niA5 Ao-DA, niA5 -^5^01-6, Magee, MacGee, MacGhee, MacGhie, Ghee, Gee.”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames