Surname Kilcran - Meaning and Origin
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Kilcran: What does the surname Kilcran mean?
The surname Kilcran is derived from the Irish surname O'Cill Chran, which translates to ‘descendants of a man with a crippled foot’. The surname's origin can be traced back to the 10th century when members of the O'Cill Chran clan were a prominent Gaelic family. The exact location of the clan is uncertain, though they were known to have been based in modern day County Galway.
Throughout history, members of the O'Cill Chran clan have served as prominent warriors and landowners. As feudal lords, they held a position of high status in Gaelic society. After the 11th century, however, a series of military defeats resulted in a loss of their lands and power.
Despite this decline, members of the Kilcran family are still found throughout Ireland, particularly in the province of Connacht. The family has spread throughout the world, taking the name with it.
Today, there are numerous variants on the surname, including Kilchrist, Killcron and MacKilchrist. It is still often used as a symbol of Irish heritage and identity. Although the original meaning of the surname has been lost in time, the Kilcran name remains an enduring and powerful reminder of Gaelic heritage and Irish history.
Order DNA origin analysisKilcran: Where does the name Kilcran come from?
The surname Kilcran is an Irish surname whose origin can be traced to County Kerry in the southwest of Ireland. Today, it is most commonly found in Ireland, particularly in County Kerry, but is also present in other parts of the world such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The meaning of Kilcran is "son/descendant of the little fierce one," likely hinting at a warrior heritage.
In the US, people bearing the surname Kilcran tend to be concentrated in the northeastern states of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Most of these individuals are descendants of Irish immigrants who arrived in the US during the 19th and 20th centuries.
In Canada, Kilcran is most common in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, particularly in the cities of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. These individuals are also largely descendants of Irish immigrants who arrived mostly during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Kilcran is also present in the United Kingdom. Most of these people are of Irish origin and many concentrated in the counties of London, Surrey, Middlesex, Lancashire, and Yorkshire.
In Ireland, the Kilcran family is more widespread, with the most common counties being Kerry, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Tipperary, and Dublin. It is also common to find Kilcran in the surrounding Irish counties such as Mayo and Leitrim.
Variations of the surname Kilcran
Kilcran is a surname of Irish origin that is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Chathain," meaning "son of the servant of Cathan". Variants of the surname Kilcran include Kilcrean, Kilcraine, Kilcrane, Kilkran, Kilcreane, Kilcrean, Kilkraine, Kilkran, Kilskearn, Kilskean, and Kilkrean.
Spellings of Kilcran can also vary. These can include Kilcran, Kilcrane, Kilkran, Kilcrean, and Kilcrain.
Some other surnames that are believed to be of the same origin are Creehan, Crehan, Crehane, and O'Cahan. These surnames are believed to have originated as derivatives of the Kilcran surname.
It is thought that many of the Kilcran related surnames were changed over time for various reasons. Common spellings could have been changed to more easily fit into different cultures and languages. Some have even been changed intentionally to hide or protecting the true identity of an individual.
In some cases, spelling variations of Kilcran may also have developed when immigrants arrived to a certain country, as different regional accents and spellings could have been adopted.
Finally, some members of the Kilcran family may have changed their names as a way of stating their independence. Examples include naming their children by different spellings, or taking on new nicknames.
Famous people with the name Kilcran
- Eamon Kilcran: Irish footballer and manager who managed Galway United during their League Cup win in 1987.
- Chris Kilcran: English singer-songwriter who released his debut album, All We Have, in 2020.
- Iain Kilcran: Scottish actor best known for his role as John McCall in the British television series, Case Histories
- John Kilcran: American stage and movie actor who also appeared in television series such as Wagon Train and The Walton's
- Steve Kilcran: Australian cyclist who won a bronze medal in the 2012 Paralympic Games
- Toby Kilcran: British comedian and actor best known for his appearances on The Kumars at No. 42 and Mock the Week
- Mike Kilcran: former professional American football player who played for the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints
- William Kilcran: English writer and teacher who wrote the book, News from Nowhere, in 1970.
- Jess Kilcran: Canadian ice hockey player who was part of the Canadian Women's teams Olympic win in 2002
- Sylvia Kilcran: British Olympic rower who competed in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games.