CLANCEY Family History

Recorded as MacClancy, O'Clancy, Clancy and Clancey, this is a famous Irish clan surname. It is said that the original chief in the 12th century or thereabouts had a reputation for being in the thick of the fighting, and perhaps it is not surprising that one of the translations of the surname is 'the son of the red warrior' from the gaelic 'Mac Fhlannchaidh'. Certainly there has hardly been a time in Irish history when a member of the clan has not been closely involved. There are two main septs, the most important being centred on County Clare, and the village of Cahermacclancy, and to some extent the surrounding counties of Galway and Tipperary, whilst a smaller group can be found in County Leitrim.