Mcgann
A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Ceann," meaning "son of the chief."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,490 Americans carry the last name Mcgann. That puts it at #8,547 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.31 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 76,337 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcgann surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
4.5K
1 in 76,337
Census rank
#8,547
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,853 bearers of the surname Mcgann in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.31 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8547th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcgann, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.2%. The next largest groups are Black (5.5%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mcgann
The surname McGann has its origins in Ireland, with the name first appearing in historical records around the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic name MacGhanna, which means "son of Gann" or "son of the fair one." The name Gann is thought to have been a pet form of the Irish name Gannon, which itself is a diminutive of the name Ogan.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the McGann name dates back to the 13th century, with a reference to a Gillacomain McGann in the Annals of Connacht in 1256. These annals were a chronicle of events in the west of Ireland, suggesting that the McGann surname may have originated in that region.
Over the centuries, various spellings of the name have been documented, including McGhann, McGan, and McGahan. Some of these variations may have been due to anglicization or regional differences in pronunciation and spelling.
The McGann surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Sean McGann (1922-1984), an Irish stage and film actor who appeared in numerous productions, including the 1962 film adaptation of James Joyce's "Ulysses."
Another prominent McGann was Bartholomew McGann (1865-1932), an American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Woolworth Building and the St. Regis Hotel.
In the literary world, Thomas McGann (1856-1942) was an Irish poet and playwright who wrote several works in the Irish language, contributing to the Irish Literary Revival of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The McGann name has also been connected to certain place names, such as McGann's Pass in South Australia, which was named after an early settler and pastoralist named Patrick McGann.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the McGann surname in England can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1170, where a person named William McGann is mentioned.
While these are just a few examples, the McGann surname has a rich history that spans centuries and can be traced back to its Irish origins, with various notable individuals bearing the name over the years.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcgann
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcgann, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.2%. The next largest groups are Black (5.5%) and Hispanic (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcgann bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mcgann surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.2%
- Black or African American5.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.8%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mcgann surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,176 | #8,547 | -4.5% |
| Count | 3,731 | 3,853 | 3.3% |
| Per 100K | 1.38 | 1.31 | -5.1% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mcgann bearers went from 3,731 to 3,853 (+3.3% change). The surname moved down 371 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,176 to #8,547.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mcgann
FAQ
Mcgann surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mcgann?
The surname Mcgann holds position #8,547 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 4,490 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.31 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mcgann surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcgann, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.2%. The next largest groups are Black (5.5%) and Hispanic (2.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.