Surname Canning - Meaning and Origin

Canning: What does the surname Canning mean?

The surname Canning is of Irish origin and derives from the Gaelic surname "O'Cannain". The "O" prefix in Gaelic surnames often means "descendant of", while "Cannain" is a personal name believed to be derived from the words ‘ceann’, meaning 'head', and ‘fhionn’, meaning 'fair or white'. So, the full meaning could be "descendant of the one with a fair head" or "descendant of the white-headed one". The name is found most frequently in the northern Irish county of Donegal. Due to historical emigration, the surname can also be found in parts of Great Britain, as well as in the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries. Notable people with the last name Canning include the English statesman George Canning, and the musician David Canning.

Canning: Where does the name Canning come from?

The surname Canning is of English origin and likely derives from a place name. There are places called Cann in Dorset and Cannington in Somerset, England which may have inspired the surname. The process of adopting place names as surnames was common in England from the 13th century onwards.

The surname Canning was first found in Wiltshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Calstone. During the early Middle Ages, it began to spread to other parts of England and to the British colonial territories such as Ireland. There was even a historic Anglo-Irish family, whose most notable member was probably George Canning, a 19th-century British Prime Minister.

Today, the surname Canning is common in English-speaking countries, particularly England, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It also has some presence in Ireland due to the historical connections between the two islands. A number of people bearing the surname have emigrated from these base areas and, as a result, it can also be found in various incarnations across the world.

Variations of the surname Canning

The surname Canning originates from the Old English personal name "Canna”, plus the suffix "-ing", meaning a tribe or family. It is linked with the English and Irish cultures and is frequently used in English-speaking countries.

The name Canning has several variants and spelling forms that can be traced back to the same origin. Some of the common ones include Cannings, Cannan, Caning, Cannon, Cannin, Canin, and Caning. The Irish variants of the surnames tend to be O'Cannan or McCann. It is quite common for surnames to undergo modifications for various reasons such as regional dialects, phonetic spellings, or even translations to or from other languages.

The name might also be spelled differently in non-English languages. For example, in France, the equivalent is Canin while in Germany it could be Kannin or Kahnin.

Note that while 'Canning' and 'Cannon' may originate from the same root name, they are usually treated as distinct surnames. Both these surnames have their own branches and variations which reflect different paths of linguistic and region-specific evolution over centuries.

Famous people with the name Canning

• George Canning: A renowned British politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
• Stratford Canning: British diplomat and politician, who served as British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
• Charles John Canning: English statesman and Governor General of India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
• Nick Canning: Executive Vice President of the American grocery company Instacart.
• Griffin Canning: An American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of the Major League Baseball.
• Kevin Canning: A Canadian entrepreneur, founder of the jewelry company PearlsOnly.
• Charlotte Canning: A British noblewoman and wife of Charles John Canning, she was the Vicereine of India from 1856 to 1861.
• George Canning, 1st Baron Garvagh: An Irish peer and British Member of Parliament, nephew of Prime Minister George Canning.
• Joan Canning, 1st Viscountess Canning: Wife of Prime Minister George Canning.
• Laura Canning: A professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Geelong Football Club in the AFL Women's.

Other surnames

Canniff