Cynan ap was born in 0984.1 Cynan ap's father was Seisyll ap Ednywain and his mother was Prawst verch Elise. His paternal grandfather was Ednowain; his maternal grandfather was Eliseg ap Anarawd. He had a brother named Llywelyn ap. He was the younger of the two children. He died at the age of 43 in 1027.1