Surname MacCiarnain - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacCiarnain: What does the surname MacCiarnain mean?
The last name MacCiarnain is a Scottish/Irish surname. It is a patronymic name that originated with the Gaelic first name "MacCiaran," meaning "son of Ciaran." Historically, Ciaran was a very popular first name among the Celts, and meant "dark" or "black."
The surname MacCiarnain appears in records as early as the late 1500s in Scotland, and more often in Ireland in the mid 1600s. It is commonly seen in southern and western coastal regions of Ireland. People with the surname MacCiarnain are believed to be descendants of Cenél Cairpre, a people of Gaelic origin descended from the High Kings of Ireland.
Today, people with the surname MacCiarnain are mostly found in Ireland and Scotland. However, it is a fairly common name, and can be found in a variety of places. The name has also been anglicised in some cases, appearing as McCurnin, MacKurnin and other variations.
MacCiarnain is a proud, historic surname with a rich history. It is a reminder of a time when the Celts ruled Ireland and Scotland, and is a testament to the resilience of the people who carried on a proud heritage for generations.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCiarnain: Where does the name MacCiarnain come from?
The MacCiarnain surname is most commonly found throughout Ireland today. It is especially popular in counties in the western half of the country, including Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, Clare, Meath, and Sligo. That said, there are also people in Scotland, England, the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries who trace their roots back to the MacCiarnain surname.
The surname MacCiarnain is a derivative of MacErrorain, which was the original spelling. It is of Gaelic origin, and the name is derived from the Old Gaelic word “ciar-”, which means “black”, and “ran,” which means “the little one”. This was most likely an occupational name, referring to a person who dyed fabric black. The family has been in Ireland since at least the 12th century and the name was adopted as an anglicization of the original Gaelic MacErrorain.
The MacCiarnain surname has seen several misspellings over the centuries, the most common being MacCiarnan, MacAirneen, MacKiernan, and MacKirnan. It is estimated that over 5,000 people in Ireland today carry the MacCiarnain surname.
The spread of Irish immigrants throughout the world during the 19th and early 20th century has enabled many of the descendants of the original MacErrorain clan to build on their Irish roots by connecting with their distant relatives in their new countries, and in finding out more about life as it was in Ireland for the family in previous generations.
Variations of the surname MacCiarnain
The surname MacCiarnain is of ancient origin. This surname is a variant of Mac Cairnain, which is the ancient Gaelic name for the clan of the same name, derived from the Irish words 'Mac' meaning "son of" and 'Cairnain' from the personal name 'Cairne', meaning "little champion".
Most common variants of the MacCiarnain surname include McCiarnain, MacCyeranin, MacCiarney and MacCearnain, throughout various spelling iterations.
The MacCiarnain family predates the 17th century, where they are first found recorded in the Irish Genealogies. The surname can be found all across Ireland and in more modern times, in parts of Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom. As a result, many variants of the MacCiarnain surname have evolved to include MacKerron, MacKerran, MacCaron, and MacCarrin.
The variants of this surname are mostly phonetically similar and follow a similar line of phonetic changes through time. This can often make it difficult to differentiate between the various spellings and similarly named surnames, such as MacKerran, MacKerwin, and MacCarin. However with more modern technology and the availability of genealogical resources, it is easier to trace the MacCiarnain name throughout the past and find the various spellings and variants used today.
Famous people with the name MacCiarnain
- Katy MacCiarnain: Scottish actress known for roles in Outlander, Twin, and Guilt.
- Jamie MacCiarnain: Scottish actor known for roles in Mrs. Brown's Boys, Braveheart, and The Rifleman.
- Sean MacCiarnain: Irish actor, director, and screenwriter known for his role in Educating Rita.
- Patrick MacCiarnain: Irish actor known for roles in The Fall, Evelyn, and Beauty and the Beast.
- Rory MacCiarnain: Scottish actor known for roles in Sherlock, Doctor Who, and The Mill.
- Alastair MacCiarnain: Scottish actor and writer known for roles in Emmerdale and The Corra Linn.
- Adam MacCiarnain: Irish actor known for roles in Vikings, The Tudors, and Princess Mononoke.
- Cathal MacCiarnain: Irish actor known for roles in Peaky Blinders, The Tudors, and The Commitments.
- Thomas MacCiarnain: Scottish actor known for roles in Game of Thrones, Braveheart, and The Book of Love.
- Seán MacCiarnain: Irish actor known for roles in Once Upon a Time and London's Burning.