OHANNEN-L Archives

From: Bob Waterous <>
Subject: The Name
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 22:03:03 -0800

Knowing my interest in genealogy, a few years ago an Irish friend of
mine gave me a book written by a man named Edward Mac Lysaght, Chairman
of the Irish Manuscripts Commission (formerly Chief Herald of Ireland).
The book is titled "Irish Families" and was published in Ireland in
1957.

Bob, list admin


Here is what he had to say about HANNON:

O'HANNON (Hanneen)
Although there are many substantial families of Hannon in Munster and
Connaught, the Annals and other sources of information regarding the
septs of mediaeval Ireland seldom mention the name O'Hannon. The death
of Maelisa O'Hannen (O hAnain), prior of Roscommon, in 1266 is one of
the few such. According to the census of 1659 the name was then numerous
in the barony of Athlone, Co. Roscommon; while Haneens were found in
considerable numbers in the barony of Bunratty, Co. Clare. The prefix
O, dropped in the submergence of Gaelic Ireland, has not been resumed.
Strictly speaking Hannon is the anglicized form of the Gaelic surname
O hAnnain. This name is chiefly associated with Co. Limerick. Another
Gaelic surname, O hAinchin, that of a family of Siol Anmchadha,
belonging to south east Galway, nominally anglicized Hanneen, has, by
attraction, become Hannon in most cases, though Hanneens are also found
in western counties. It is of interest to note that older people in
Clare and Galway call this name Hanheen thus keeping close to the Irish
pronunciation of O hAinchin. Further there is O hAnnachain which is
called Hannon rather than Hanahan in Co. Limerick. The name Hannon
to-day is principally found in Co. Limerick and in the counties Galway
and Roscommon.

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• The Name by Bob Waterous <>