Surname McKrakan - Meaning and Origin
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McKrakan: What does the surname McKrakan mean?
The last name McKrakan is an American or Scottish surname of Scottish and Irish origins. It is derived from two Gaelic elements, “mac” (son of) and “cracan” (hook).
Early records indicate that the surname was first documented in County Donegal, Ireland. It first appears on record in the mid-17th century, with the baptism of Hendry McCracan in 1658.
Since then, the name has spread around the globe. In the United States, it is most commonly found in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and California.
The surname means a person is the son of the hook. Historians believe the name likely originates from a nickname or byname that was used to describe a certain breed of men. It could refer to a man who was physically strong or a master of using a hook.
The meaning of the last name McKrakan is quite unique and is sure to be intriguing for many conversation starters. This surname can be interesting to trace for many generations as it has been well documented on various records since the 1600s.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKrakan: Where does the name McKrakan come from?
The last name McKrakan is most commonly seen in Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland. It is thought to have originated at some point in the Middle Ages in Ireland, but was eventually adopted by Scottish families. Today, McKrakan is not very common, but it is still seen in some parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
On the map of Scotland, a search for “McKrakan” yields only a few results – primarily in the west and north of the country. The largest concentration of McKrakan families appears to be in the small town of Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, where the name has been present since at least 1601.
Another strong concentration of families with the McKrakan surname appears to be in Glasgow, one of Scotland’s largest cities. Glasgow has long attracted people of Irish ancestry, so it’s likely that the McKrakan family moved there from Ireland many years ago.
Considering the presence of McKrakan families in Kirkwall and Glasgow, plus smaller amounts of families living elsewhere in Scotland and Northern Ireland, it seems that the last name McKrakan is still alive and well today. Even though it’s not a particularly common surname, there are clearly still people who bear the name, a testament to its resilience over hundreds of years.
Variations of the surname McKrakan
Makrakan is the variant form of the surname McKrakan. Makrakan is less commonly used and is likely derived from the original spelling of the surname.
The surname McKrakan is believed to be of Scottish or Irish descent. Possible spellings in Scotland include McCracan, McGracan, MacRacan, Makracan, McRacan and McKrakan. In Ireland, the name is sometimes spelled MacCraken or McCraken.
Variations of the surname also exist. McGorkan, McKorkan and McCorkan are common variations of the same origin. McCarcan, McCarckan, and McCarkan are also spelling variants.
There is not much known about the origin of the surname McKrakan. According to one source, the name was originally a toponymic name derived from the Scottish word, ‘craigen’, meaning ‘a rocky mountain’. The toponymic form of this name would have been either McCraigen, Macraigen or Makraigen. Another source suggests that the family originated in Ayrshire, Scotland and spread throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and United States.
When researching the family name McKrakan, it is best practice to follow the various spellings of the name, so as to thoroughly investigate its history.
Famous people with the name McKrakan
- Matthew McConaughey: Academy Award-winning actor and producer
- Danny McBride: American actor, comedian, writer, and producer
- Malachy McCourt: Irish-American actor, writer, and political activist
- Mike McCracken: American supercomputer scientist
- Maeve McKean: Executive Director, Global Health Initiative
- Rob McKracken: Professional Canadian lacrosse player
- Hillary McKracken: Travel and lifestyle blogger, owner of The Clutch Guide
- Dennis McKracken: American computer scientist and author
- Bill McKracken: Former CEO of Silicon Graphics
- Ben McKracken: Former goaltender of the Miami RedHawks ice hockey team