This project aims to establish the relationship between people whose family is Scanlan/Scanlon (or one of its many variants). We believe that Scanlan, Scanlon and Scannel is an anglicized form of the old Gaelic O’Scannlain. This is derived from the Gaelic pre 10th century personal ‘Scanlain’ which translates as ‘The contentious one’. The prefix ‘O’ indicates grandson of while Mc/Mac indicates son of. There are three distinct septs (families) the first one being found in County Louth, using the prefix ‘Mac” and they gave their name to Ballymacscanlon near Dundalk. The second in West Munster, (Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Clare) and the third sept in County Sligo. The surname continued to develop to variants in England, Scotland, America, Canada and Australia.