Surname MacKerran - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacKerran: What does the surname MacKerran mean?
The surname MacKerran is of Scottish origin. It predominantly originates from the region of Galloway in the southwestern part of the country. The name is derived from the Gaelic term "MacMhurchaidh" or "MacMhurchadh" which translates to "son of the sea warrior." As with most surnames that begin with 'Mac,' it indicates a patronymic name, meaning that the original bearer was identified as the 'son' of someone, in this case, a sea warrior. This suggests that the ancestors of the MacKerrans were likely seafaring people, possibly engaging in naval warfare or piracy. Notably, surnames during their inception were usually rooted in a clan or larger family group, often indicative of an individual's occupation or characteristics of a progenitor. The varied spellings of the name over time, like MacKeran, McKerran, and others, reflect historical changes in pronunciation and recording.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKerran: Where does the name MacKerran come from?
The surname MacKerran is of Scottish origin, derived from Gaelic roots. The prefix “Mac” is a patronymic addition, meaning "son of," while "Kerran" comes from Ciaran, a popular Irish Saint's name. Thus, it could be interpreted as "son of Ciaran". The name traces back to Dalriadan tribes in the southwest region of Scotland.
In the modern era, the dispersion of the Scottish diaspora means this name may be found anywhere in the world with a significant Scottish immigrant population. However, it remains most commonly found in Scotland and in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand where Scottish emigration was historically high. These emigrants often worked in various trades across their new homelands, helping to shape these thriving societies.
Despite this, the name MacKerran remains quite rare, as many Scottish surnames with Gaelic roots have been anglicized over the centuries. Also, the patronymic system has influenced many versions and spellings of this surname, leading to variations and making it less common.
Variations of the surname MacKerran
The surname MacKerran stems from Gaelic origins and it has a lot of variants and spellings due to differences in translation and transcription over the centuries. Some of these variations include: MacKerron, McKerran, McKerron, McKeran, McKeron, MacKeran, MacKeron, Makerran, Makerron, Makeran, Makeron, MacErran, MacErron, McErran, McErron, MacErren, and Macerron.
In addition to these, this surname can also have a "Mc" prefix instead of "Mac," both of which mean "son" in Gaelic. A few examples may include McKerrin, McKerren, MacKerren, McKerrin, etc. It is also possible for the name to appear without the prefix, appearing as simply Kerran, Kerron, Keran, Keron, Erran, Erron, and Erren.
All these variations have the same origin and are attributable to the Gaelic MacThighearnain, from the elements "mac," meaning son, "tighearna," meaning lord or master, and the diminutive suffix "-an."
As with all surnames, specific spellings may have evolved or been adapted based on geographic location, the language of the area, or even personal preference.
Famous people with the name MacKerran
- Stephen Mackerras: musical theater composer from Australia
- Alec Mackerras: Australian media scholar
- Ralf Mackerras: Scottish geographer
- Duncan Mackerras: British diplomat
- Simon Mackerras: Australian playwright
- Benjamin Mackerras: British jurist
- Campbell Mackerras: American television editor
- Ashleigh Mackerran: Canadian sportswoman
- Margot Mackerran: Canadian figure skater
- Daisy Mackerran: Canadian singer-songwriter