Surname MacMorran - Meaning and Origin
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MacMorran: What does the surname MacMorran mean?
The last name MacMorran is a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Murchain, meaning “son of Murchan.” Murchan was a personal name of unknown origin, though some scholars note that there are connections between this Gaelic name and Old Norse or Norman names such as Morcar or Murcheon, which have the same meaning. The name likely originated in the medieval Highland Scottish kingdom of Dalriada.
MacMorran is a sept of Clan Donald, one of the most powerful of the Highland clans. Though its branches likely spread throughout Scotland, its home was likely mainly located in the districts of Glengarry and Inverness-shire—the heartland of prominent Clan Donald families in the north. This clan became known for its warlike nature and strength, and the MacMorran sept was highly respected within the Clan Donald group.
Over time, the MacMorran family made its way to Canada and the United States, along with many other Celtic families. In North America, the name has become Anglicized and today is often spelled McMurren or McMurran. However, regardless of spelling, the name carries with it a proud history of strength, resilience, and ambition, which makes it an excellent name to carry on.
Order DNA origin analysisMacMorran: Where does the name MacMorran come from?
The last name MacMorran is a Scottish surname, most commonly found in areas of Scotland such as the Highlands and Islands, Aberdeenshire and Argyll and Bute. It is also a Gaelic surname; it’s origin can be traced to the ancient Kingdom of Dal Riata (modern day Argyll). MacMorran is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic MacMhuirich, which translates to son of the sea navigator.
Today, most MacMorrans are still located in Scotland, but many have migrated all over the world, some choosing to stay in the British Isles while others spread further afield to other places such as Canada, Australia and the United States. The surname isn’t overly common, but due to the large historical migration from Scotland, the name can still be found in relatively high numbers in some of these countries.
In Scotland, the most commonly associated name is MacMhuirich (the Gaelic roots of MacMorran) along with its English version, Morrison. So, although the MacMorran surname can still be found around the world, it is primarily associated with Scotland and the people found there with this surname or a variation of it.
Variations of the surname MacMorran
MacMorran is a Gaelic surname originating from Scotland. Variant spellings of the name include MacMorron, MacMoran, MacMurren, and MacMurran. It is also seen in various alternative spellings, such as McMorran, McMurran, McMurren, and McMorran.
In some instances, MacMorran has been incorrectly spelled MacMorran, but similar sounding surnames exist which are believed to holding the same origin. These include MacMorin, McMoran, MacMorrine, MacMuran, MacMurrin, MacMorrin, McMorin, and MacMurine.
The surname has the same root as many Mac-surnames, such as MacDermott, MacLeod, and MacCormick. It is believed to ultimately be derived from the Gaelic Mac Murchaidh, meaning “son of Murchaidh”. Murchaidh is a derivative of the Old Irish name Muircheartach, which became anglicised to Murrough or Maurice.
The Clan MacMorran is based in the Mull of Kintyre and Islay in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Other clans associated with the MacMorran surname are the Clan MacMorrow, the Clan MacGillivray, and the Clan MacNeill.
MacMorran is also a common name in Canada, and is usually derived from Scots-Irish settlers. Variations of the name, including MacMurrin, McMorran, McMurin, and McMurran, are also common in Canada.
In addition to the MacMorran surname, there are also some other surnames which are possibly either variants of or derived from it, such as McGowan, MacGorrin, MacKerran, MacCormick, and McMurray.
Famous people with the name MacMorran
- Anna MacMorran: Scottish actress, singer and songwriter
- James MacMorran: Australian politician
- Matthew Beath MacMorran: Australian politician
- Ranald MacMorran: Captain of Clan MacMillan and Member of the Board of Superintendence of the Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland in 1825
- Jedediah MacMorran: English naturalist and pastor
- Robert MacMorran: Canadian politician
- Frederick William MacMorran: Canadian politician
- Mark MacMorran: Australian actor
- Calum MacMorran: Scottish musician and composer
- Peter MacMorran: British army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross