Surname Dorran - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'D'
Dorran: What does the surname Dorran mean?
The last name Dorran is of Irish origin. It derives from the Gaelic O Deorain, which is a patronymic surname meaning "son of," derived from the Old Gaelic personal name Deargán, which literally translates to "forgiver". This name is believed to be the Anglicized version of an Irish form or the Old Norse personal name Djarfinn or Dirfinn.
The Dorran surname is primarily found in the Ulster (northeastern) province of Ireland, where their original homeland was in County Donegal. The family may also be descended from people who had settled in the area centuries ago. The Dorrans were landowners and farmers in Donegal, many of whom held titled positions in their native Ulster.
In America, Dorrans primarily live in California, Massachusetts, Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan. As Irish immigrants, the Dorrans experienced a lack of education and employment opportunities, leading them to flock to cities and towns across America in search of a better life.
Today, members of the Dorran family are seen in many different professional avenues, from academia to business to government. They have retained their strong Irish identity and are proud of their history and heritage. It is clear that the Dorran surname can be traced back to a proud and storied past, and is still celebrated as part of the Irish diaspora in the Americas.
Order DNA origin analysisDorran: Where does the name Dorran come from?
The last name Dorran is most common in Ireland, where it has been found in records for hundreds of years. It is particularly prevalent in County Kerry, specifically in the old Gaelic region of Ui Eachach, and it is thought that this is the original home of the Dorran family. The Dorran family name stems from the old Gaelic name “O Dareain”, which means “descendant of Dareain”.
The family can also be found in the US, UK, and other parts of Europe, and is most common in England, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland. There are even a small number of Dorran families in New Zealand.
The distribution of the surname Dorran today reflects the migrations of people from Ireland to other parts of the world over the past couple of centuries. It is most likely that those who have carried the name to other countries were the descendants of Irish immigrants who moved abroad and married into families with different last names.
Despite being relatively common in some parts of the world, the Dorran name is not particularly widespread. Today, its bearers are still proud to bear this ancient Irish name and to continue the legacy of their forebearers.
Variations of the surname Dorran
The surname Dorran is of Irish and Scottish origin, and there are several variants, spellings, and surnames that have the same origin.
Dorran is most widely spelled as Doran or Dorran, with Dorran being the original spelling derived from the Irish Ó Deoradháin, and Doran being the anglicised form. Other variants of this surname include Dorin, Dorron, and Dornan. The Scottish variant of the surname is spelled Dorran, and goes back to the Gaelic Mac An Ruadháin, meaning ‘son of the red-haired one’.
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include:
Dorin – derived from Reed;
Dorron – derived from Red;
Dornan – derived from Red;
Ó Deoradháin – derived from Red; and
Mac An Ruadháin – meaning ‘son of the red-haired one’.
The surname Dorran is found throughout the British Isles and also in the United States, Canada, and Australia. In Scotland, the surname is widely found in the southwest Highlands and in many of the hill regions in the Eastern Highlands. In Ireland, the surname is most widely found in County Cork, County Mayo, and County Kilkenny.
Despite the various spellings of the surname, all of these variants have the same origin and meaning. The surname comes from two Gaelic words meaning ‘red’ and ‘haired’, which together can be translated as ‘red-haired’. Those who have the surname can trace their origins back to ancient Irish and Scottish roots.
Famous people with the name Dorran
- Kiefer Sutherland: An accomplished Canadian-born actor, Sutherland is best known for his role as a secret agent in the landmark action-drama series, 24. He is the son of English actor Donald Sutherland and the grandson of Canadian politician Tommy Douglas.
- Sandie Shaw: A British singer and actress, Shaw is best known for her 1960's hits such as "Long Live Love" and "Puppet on a String." She later pursued acting and has appeared in films such as Alfie and The Idol Maker.
- Stanley Dorran: A supportive Canadian Air Force officer, Dorran was later appointed Chairman of the Canadian Transportation Agency. He was active in a number of transportation organizations, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
- Donald Sutherland: An English actor and film producer, Sutherland's film career spans more than five decades. He is best known for his roles in The Dirty Dozen, MASH, Ordinary People, and The Hunger Games series.
- Wil Wheaton: A voice actor, writer, and blogger, Wheaton is best known for playing Wesley Crusher in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He now appears frequently in TV shows and films as well as on his blog, wilwheaton.net.