Surname MacSporran - Meaning and Origin
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MacSporran: What does the surname MacSporran mean?
MacSporran is a Scottish surname of Gaelic origin. It consists of two elements “Mac” and “Sporran”. "Mac" is a common prefix in Scottish and Irish surnames, meaning "son of". The word “Sporran” traditionally refers to the pouch worn as a part of men’s Scottish Highland dress. Hence, MacSporran could be interpreted as "son of the sporran maker", suggesting that the original bearer of the name could have been a sporran maker or the son of one. It should be noted that meanings of surnames are speculative based on their etymology, and the actual significance may vary. Surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups by their occupation, place of origin, clan, patronage, and physical attributes, among others.
Order DNA origin analysisMacSporran: Where does the name MacSporran come from?
The surname MacSporran is of Scottish origin. Its roots trace back to the ancient Medieval Scottish kingdom of Dalriada, a Gaelic overkingdom on the western coast of Scotland in the Late Iron Age and Early Medieval periods. The name means "son of the purse," possibly referring to a treasurer's role or because Sporran is a type of traditional Scottish purse or pouch often used in conjunction with kilts.
Today, MacSporran is not common and, like many surnames, its prevalence has spread globally due to migration and diaspora over the centuries. However, it can still be found most frequently in Scotland, specifically in areas with a strong Scottish heritage. Other regions with notable populations of people bearing the MacSporran surname may include other parts of the United Kingdom, as well as countries such as Canada, the United States, and Australia due to historical Scottish migration patterns. Despite its origins, the name does not limit itself to those of Scottish ancestry or Scots Gaelic speakers.
Variations of the surname MacSporran
The surname MacSporran has Scottish origins, deriving from the Gaelic names MacSporran and MacSporain which mean "son of the purse." This likely refers to a treasurer or someone responsible for managing funds. While the specific "MacSporran" spelling is subject to variation based on phonetic renderings, transliterations, and anglicization over centuries.
Alternate spellings could include McSporran, MacSporran, MacSporrin, McSporrin, MacSporren, McSporren, MacSparran, McSparran, and MacSperron, McSperron among others. Each subtly different, but likely stemming from the same Gaelic root.
Given the commonality of "Mac" and "Mc" prefixes in Celtic surnames, which refers to son of, surnames that carry the same or similar meanings, for example, the Irish surname O'Sporran (descendant of Sporran) might be related. Note, however, that the connections between such names often require genealogical research to establish definitively.
Keep in mind that it's quite common in genealogy to encounter different spellings of the same family name, even within immediate families, due to literacy levels, language barriers, and clerical errors in historical records. So, one can expect sizable variations in the spelling of the surname.
Famous people with the name MacSporran
- Kelly MacSporran, field hockey player for Scotland's national team and UCL coach
- Shaun MacSporran, Australian football player
- Laurie MacSporran, Australian sprinter and Paralympian
- Ed MacSporran, Canadian economist and International Monetary Fund senior consultant
- Duncan MacSporran, British writer and BBC Radio reporter
- Russell MacSporran, Scottish Righteous Among the Nations awardee
- Jayden MacSporran, New Zealand rugby union player
- Warren MacSporran, boxing coach and New Zealand sport trainer
- Gordon MacSporran, Canadian lawyer and former Supreme Court Justice
- Sarah MacSporran, Canadian historian and lecturer on women's suffrage