Lennon


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The Lennon surname has come either from the Gaelic Leannan meaning "little cloak" (some say "lover") or from the personal name Lonan, a diminutive of lon or "blackbird."

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Ireland.  It is thought that the O'Leannain clan came originally from Galway on the west coast of Ireland.  They later anglicized their name to Lennon; while the O'Leannains of Mayo generally became Leonard instead. 

They became best known in early times in Fermanagh.  Teag O'Lennon was recorded in 1380 in the Annals of the Four Masters as the erenagh of Eniskillen.  This office of erenage was a hereditary one, as the holder of church property and the maintainer of priests.  The O'Lennons of Fermanagh held that title and the O'Lennons of Lispoole near Enniskillen produced many distinguished ecclesiastics.

By the 19th century the main numbers of Lennons were in Armagh and many of the Lennon emigrants came from there.  Others, like John Lennon's ancestors, were from county Down.

England.  John Lennon, the Beatle, was born and grew up in Liverpool.  His ancestors came from county Down in Ireland and had moved to Liverpool by 1850.  Rumor has it that grandfather Jack had worked as a professional singer with the Kentucky Minstrels in America, but it has no basis in fact.  Jack lived and died in Liverpool.

America.  Among the Lennons who came to America in the 19th century were:
  • James and Mary Lennon who arrived in 1849 and settled in Outagamie county, Wisconsin
  • and Ellen Lennon who left Roscommon with her twelve children and grandchildren on a lengthy journey in 1852 which took them via Dublin, Liverpool, New Orleans, Chicago, and eventually to Joliet, Illinois.  
Argentina.  Edward Lennon arrived with his family in Buenos Aires in 1842 and was one of the country's first Irish immigrants.  He worked hard on his arrival and in time became a substantial rancher in land to the north of Buenos Aires.

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Jimmy Lennon, known as the voice of the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, was one of the top announcers of the boxing and wrestling world.
The Lennon Sisters were a singing group who debuted on American TV in 1955 and had a long-running career.  They were born in Los Angeles of Irish/German ancestry.
John Lennon from Liverpool was the celebrated Beatle and "Workingclass Hero" who was shot dead outside the Dakota building in New York in 1980.
Neil Lennon from county Armagh was an international football player for Northern Ireland who became the football manager of Glasgow Celtic.

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  • 9,000 in the UK (most numerous in Glasgow)
  • 4,000 in America (most numerous in New York) 
  • 8,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Ireland)

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