Surname McCrossan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McCrossan: What does the surname McCrossan mean?
The last name McCrossan is of Irish origin and is rooted in the personal name Crossan, meaning "young cross". It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Chrosáin", which translates to "son of the cross". As a name, this may have been given to someone who was associated with a crossing of some sort such as a bridge or a road. It was particularly common in County Donegal and the northern parts of Ireland. It may also signify a religious connection, referring perhaps to a connection with a monastery or a Christian cross. Like many Irish surnames, the 'Mc' prefix means 'son of' indicating descent or lineage. So McCrossan would most likely mean 'son of Crossan'. Names that bear 'Mc' or 'Mac' are a symbol of the deep-rooted tradition of patronymics in Irish culture, where a person’s identity is often tied to their familial lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCrossan: Where does the name McCrossan come from?
The surname McCrossan is of Irish origin, stemming from the Gaelic Mac Crossain, which roughly translates to "Son of Crossan." In this context, "Crossan" itself is a diminutive of the word "cross." The name is therefore believed to have a religious connection, possibly denoting servitude to a monastery or a church.
As is common with many Gaelic Irish surnames, the "Mc" prefix was dropped during the anglicization process. Hence, some family members may have used the name Crossan, whereas others readopted the original McCrossan.
This surname is most commonly found today in Ireland, particularly in the counties of Tyrone and Donegal in the northern part of the country. However, due to the waves of Irish migration during the 19th and 20th century, primarily because of the potato famine, McCrossan is also present in various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the UK. Despite this dispersion, it’s still relatively rare, ranking as the 130,036th most common surname in the world.
Variations of the surname McCrossan
The surname McCrossan has both Gaelic and Irish origins. It's derived from the Gaelic Mac an Chrosain translating to 'son of the cross'. Over time, this surname has taken on varying forms due to phonetic translations, regional dialects, and different generations.
Variations and phonetic spellings of the surname McCrossan include: McCrosan, McCrosain, McCroson, McCrossin, MacCrossan, and MacCrossin are to name a few. Other, less common, variations might carry distinctive additional letters or spellings, such as M'Crossan or McCrosson.
Often, the "Mc" or "Mac" prefix can be dropped altogether, resulting in names like Crossan or Crossin. This dropping of the prefix was seen as a way to anglicize the names during periods of British rule in Ireland.
There are also geographical variations depending on the region of Ireland or Scotland, where the surname was found. Hence, we see variations such as McCrossen in County Tyrone, McCrossan in County Donegal, or McCrosson in Scotland.
In some cases, the name is altered to fit into a new culture or language as families emigrated, leading to further variations like Crosson. It's also sometimes spelled as McKrossan, especially in the United States. However, all these variations point back to the original Gaelic surname.
Famous people with the name McCrossan
- Stewart McCrossan: A renowned player in the field of business who served as an executive vice president at Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS).
- Anna McCrossan: Anna is a notable figure in cycling, having worked in various roles for British Cycling, Team Sky, and Union Cycliste Internationale. She also served as CEO of the charity Catterick Garrison.
- Andy McCrossan: A well-known psychologist who has worked in various roles in mental health services. He has a particular interest in developing psychological interventions for people with psychosis.
- Frank McCrossan: A renowned business leader in the UK, serving as the Director of Corporate Services in Social Work Scotland.
- Terry McCrossan: Known for his career in film and TV where he worked as an actor. He is most known for his roles in Cops LAC (2010) and Home and Away (1988).
- John Joseph McCrossan: Recognized for his contribution to politics, John J McCrossan was a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Please note that the McCrossan surname is not widely known in popular culture and fame, hence the people listed may not be familiar to a general audience.