O'Concannon

Ⅰ.

Recorded as O'Concannon and Concannon, this is an Irish surname of great antiquity, an din former times, considerable land holdings and authority. It is particulary associated with the west coast of the country and specificially County Galway. The origination is from the pre 10th century Gaelic O' Concheanainn, which means the decendants of Cuceannanm, a famous warrior and chief of Ui Maine, who is believed to have been killed in the year 991 a.d. The majority of Irish surname do originate from some famous or claimed famous person of ancient times. This is one whose origins seem to be proven and correct. It seems that for many centuries the clan O' Concannon were the lords of Ui Diarmarda in what is now Kilkerrin, County Galway. It is recorded that as late as 1585 the chiefs still occupied their seat of Kultullagh in the parish of Cormcamoe, although all trace of this castle now seems to have disappeared. As late as 1848 the chief of the clan still occupied lands in the parish of Kilkerrin, but by 1878 when the last comprehensive survey of Ireland was completed, they had disappeared from the list of landowners. In fact the clan itself has gradually shrunk, with the birth rate indicating only a membership of five hundred nameholders in modern Ireland from perhaps five thousand in past centuries.

Ⅱ.

Recorded in the spellings of O'Concannon and Concannon, this is a famous Irish surname. The name is particularly associated with County Galway, and it is said that for many centuries was found only there. The clan claim descent from a warrior called 'Cuceannan' who was killed in battle in 991 a.d. The name is believed to translate as 'the fair headed hound' which is possible, anything is possible with surnames. Irish surnames in particular, descend from the original chieftain, and many are or were, nicknames for some aspect of the chief. As 'Kennedy' means 'ugly head', then 'fairheaded hound' is quite complimentary. Unfortunately, without actually being present when a name was given a thousand or more years ago, it is quite impossible to give an actual or factual meaning, and be sure of it. What we do know is that the clan were known as 'The lords of Ui Diarmada' in what is now County Galway, and that in 1585 the chiefs were recorded as being in possession of the village and castle of Kultallagh in the parish of Kilkerrin. It seems that although still in occupation in 1848, by 1878 they were no longer recorded as landowners. Probably the first known recording of the surname is on a gravestone at Knockmoy Abbey, in County Galway, when Maurice O'Concannon was buried there in circa 1350.