Surname Cana - Meaning and Origin
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Cana: What does the surname Cana mean?
The last name Cana is derived from the French and Spanish words for "cane," which can be used to refer to a type of reed, plant stalk, or hollow, woody stem. It was likely first used as a nickname for someone who kept and tended to cane plants, which were used to create things like baskets, canes, and fencing.
In the Middle Ages, the surname spread across Spain and France, eventually making its way around the world. Its earliest noted use is in the region of Palencia, Spain, as a given name to nineth-century Bishop Osendica de Cana.
In Europe, the Cana family is prevalent in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Romania, and England. In the United States, the surname gained prominence in the late 1800s, when people from these countries began to immigrate to the United States.
From a symbolic point of view, the hardiness of the cane plant is thought to reflect the traits of those who bear the name Cana - strength, resilience, and perseverance. The can also symbolize creativity, because of its use in traditional craft making. In addition, the cane plant’s capacity to withstand harsh winds and storms are thought to reflect the Cana family's ability to journey through difficult times.
Order DNA origin analysisCana: Where does the name Cana come from?
The last name Cana is most commonly found in countries located in the eastern Mediterranean, such as Greece and Turkey. In Greece, it is a very common surname and is often spelled Kane, Kaan, Khan, or Kan. In Turkey, the Cana surname is much less widespread, though significantly more common in regions close to the Greek border.
In the Americas, the Cana surname can be found in both North and South America, primarily in countries with a large Hispanic or Latino population. This is due to the surname being a variation of 'Cano', which is a very popular last name among those of Spanish descent. The surname Cana is also present in North America, mainly in the United States.
The last name Cana can also be found in the Philippines, where it was introduced in the 1500s by Spanish settlers. In the Philippines, the name Cana is quite common today in the northern part of the country, in the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union.
In general, the last name Cana is not especially common around the world. However, it does have a presence in a number of countries, and is particularly widespread amongst Greek and Spanish-speaking populations in Europe, the Americas, and the Philippines.
Variations of the surname Cana
The surname Cana is an ancient, diverse and geographically widespread surname of many different origins. It can be of Anglo-Norman, Irish, Hebrew, Spanish and Italian origin, and is sometimes spelled Kana or Cannah depending on the country of origin.
In the United States, the most common form of the surname is Cana. However, variants such as Cane, Kanai and Kahn have been found across different parts of the country.
In the British Isles, variants such as Kana, Keane and Cain are more commonly found. The Irish form of the surname is invariably spelled Kana. It is derived from the Gaelic and old-Irish Ó Cáithin, as in the seventh century Kildare tribe, the Cáithin Ua Cuinn (the descendants of Conn).
In Spain, the surname Cana or Canna originates from the Castilian and Galician words for reed and cane, with additional forms such as Caña being found in the Hispanic-American world.
In Italy, the surname is often spelled Canna or Cannella, which are derived from the Latin word cannae, meaning reed or cane.
In Hebrew, the surname is sometimes called Kahn, and is derived from the high-priestly family name Cohen, meaning priest.
In summary, the surname Cana can take many different forms and spellings depending upon geographic origin. In the United States it is commonly spelled Cana, while in the British Isles it is most commonly found as Kana, Keane or Cain. In Spain it is Cana or Caña, while in Italy it is Canna or Cannella. In Hebrew it is Kahn, derived from the high-priestly family name Cohen.
Famous people with the name Cana
- Sergio Canales: professional Spanish footballer
- Paulo Dybala: Argentine professional footballer
- Maria Canals-Barrera: American actress
- Yannick Noah: French former professional tennis player
- Vincent Martella: American actor
- Gerson Cana: Brazilian painter
- Kevin Canalt: Professional Mexican singer
- Dani Cana: Former Spanish professional footballer
- Bernard Cana: Portuguese handball player
- Christian Cana: Argentine professional footballer