Surname Canon - Meaning and Origin

Canon: What does the surname Canon mean?

The surname Canon is of English, French, and Spanish origin. In English, it is derived from the Old Norman word "canun," (from Latin “canon”) meaning a clergyman or cleric, which was often given as a nickname to a person who worked for a canon or was a canon himself. It could also be an occupational surname for someone who worked in a clergyman's household. In French and Spanish, it is a topographic name for someone who lived in a canyon or deep valley, derived from the word "canon," meaning cannon or large pipe. Thus, the surname could potentially refer to someone’s occupation, residence, or character trait. The surname Canon has various spelling modifications including Cannon, Cannan, Cannen, and Cannun among others. It's important to note that the meaning and origin may also vary among individuals or families with the surname Canon, depending upon their regional and historical contexts.

Canon: Where does the name Canon come from?

The surname Canon is of English origin but is associated with multiple possible derivations. One theory is that it was used as an occupational name for individuals who worked for a canon, a clergy member in Christian churches. Another suggests it came from the French personal name "Canon", brought into England by the Normans during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. Alternatively, it might have derived from towns named Caen in Northwestern France.

Canon is also a nickname type surname, originating from the Old French "canoun", itself borrowed from the Greek "kanon" (rule, measure), given to a person who behaved in a proper, or rule-abiding manner.

Today, the last name Canon is most commonly found in the United States with a significant presence in France and the United Kingdom as well. The name is less commonly found, but still present, in Canada, Australia, and South Africa. There is also an unexpected prevalence in the Philippines. Despite its broad global presence, it remains relatively rare, not featuring among the most common surnames in these countries.

Variations of the surname Canon

The surname Canon has many variations and alternate spellings due to regional differences, language translations, and phonetic spellings. In some cases, the variations originated from the profession of the name bearer, as Canon originally referred to "clergyman" or "cleric".

Alternate spellings and variants include Cannan, Cannon, Cannone, Cannun, Cannin, Canun, Canning, Canonico, Kanon, Kanen, Kannan, Kanonik, and Canoni. These variations have evolved over time and are found in different cultures and languages, often reflecting the language's phonetic and spelling rules.

For instance, in Italian, Canonico and Canoni are common editions. The surname Canning can be located mainly in England and Ireland. In Scotland and the Isle of Man, Cannan and Cannin are found. The German variation is often found as Kanon or Kanonik. Cannon is a common American English version. Each of these variations can have numerous sub-variations due to regional dialects and individual spelling choices.

Furthermore, surnames like Kannan that share phonetic similarities with Canon may have separate origins in different cultures, as is the case with some South Indian names.

It's good to remember that this is not an exhaustive list and one's family history, geographical history, and individual spelling choices can create even more variations.

Famous people with the name Canon

• James P. Canon: An American Marxist theorist and political leader.
• Annie Jump Cannon: An American astronomer whose cataloging work was instrumental in the development of contemporary stellar classification.
• Fred Canon: The former American football fullback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys.
• Dyan Cannon: An American actress, director, screenwriter, editor, and producer who has received multiple awards and nominations.
• John Canon: An eighteen-century British portrait painter.
• Joey Canon: An American film score composer known for his work in independent films.
• Kendall Canon: An American Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Marion Canon Frey: An American Classical scholar and teacher.
• Nicolas Le Canon: A French professional footballer who signed with AS Monaco.
• Steve Canon: An American playwright and author known for his downtown theatre works. Please note that some of these individuals might not be globally famous, however they are well-known within their individual fields.

Other surnames

CanoCanoglu