Surname McArran - Meaning and Origin
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McArran: What does the surname McArran mean?
The surname McArran is of Scottish origins, typically found in the Western Isles of Scotland. It is derived from a personal name Mac Ghille Erain or MacGill’Erin, which is a combination of two Scottish Gaelic words – “Gille” meaning servant, and “Erin” meaning Ireland. Thus, the name McArran has an implied connotation of a “servant of Ireland”.
It is thought to have originated with early migrants who settled in the Scottish isles after fleeing Ireland during the 17th and 18th centuries. During this time, much of Scotland's population was of Irish descent. As a result, McArran emerged during this period, along with other similar Irish-Scottish surnames such as MacNeil and MacLeod.
In its Scots-Gaelic form, the surname is spelt MacGhill’Erin. The McArran spelling is a product of Scottish Anglicisation, which is an effort to more accurately represent the original Gaelic words phonetically in English. As a result, the spelling of the surname varies, sometimes appearing with an 'h' in lieu of the 'g'.
Today, there are several thousand people currently bearing the McArran name throughout many parts of the world. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of these early Irish Scots migrants who emigrated from their homeland in search of a better life.
Order DNA origin analysisMcArran: Where does the name McArran come from?
The McArran surname is thought to have originated in Scotland, particularly in the Lanarkshire portion of the country. Today, the surname continues to be strongly associated with Scotland, though there is a presence of McArran ancestors found in other parts of the world.
In the United States, the McArran surname is most strongly associated with the southern states, particularly the Appalachia region. In the United Kingdom, it is most commonly found around the Clydesdale region, which includes Lanarkshire. Other parts of Scotland where the McArran surname can be found include county bits like Sutherland, Argyll, and Aberdeenshire.
In modern times, the McArran surname can also be found in the major cities of the United Kingdom including Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, and Belfast. As one of the less common surnames in the country, it is not as widely found in these cities as in Scotland.
Outside of Britain, McArran is most frequently found in countries such as Australia, Canada, India, and the United States. In Canada, the surname is found in the provinces of Alberta and Nova Scotia, while in the United States, it is most concentrated in the southern states.
The surname McArran can also be found in other parts of the world including the Gulf States in the Middle East, South Africa, and parts of Asia. There has also been a recent presence of McArran in France, particularly in Paris and its surrounding territories.
Variations of the surname McArran
McArran is a surname of Gaelic origin. Variants of this name include McCarron, McCarrin, MacCarron, MacCarran, MacCarrin, M’Carran, M’Carrin, Carran and Carrin. It can also be spelled as McArran, MacArran, McCarrran, MacCarronne and McAron.
McArran is thought to derive from the Gaelic Mac meanin' son of, plus the personal name Carran. Carran means a little rock, from the Irish Mac Carra, and was originally a nickname for someone of strong, rock-like character.
The MacArran clan originated in the county of Donegal in Northern Ireland, but due to migration, it can now also be found in Scotland, the United States and Canada. McArran is also a variant of the Irish name Mag Uaráin, which is anglicized as McGarran.
It is also related to the Scottish name MacArran and similar names such as MacGarrigle, MacGarvan, and MacGarland. The name MacArran in Scotland is an anglicization of the Gaelic Mac Mhuirich and was borne by a minor sept in Kintyre, Argyle. Originally, the MacMhuirichs of Kintyre were hereditary poets to the MacDonalds of Islay.
In Scotland, variants of the McArran surname include MacGarrigle, MacGarvan and MacGarland, as well as other similar sounding names such as Carran and Carin. Other Scottish variants include McCarrick, McCarrane and McCormick. In the United States, variants of the McArran surname include Macaroon, Maccarrone, and Mcaroon.
Famous people with the name McArran
- Katherine McArran: professional basketball player who has played in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks.
- Oliver McArran: Actor known for his portrayal of Jason Stephens in the TV show "Beverly Hills, 90210."
- Maeve McArran: Irish fiction writer and winner of the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award in 2007.
- Janice McArran: former model who was a Victoria's Secret lingerie and Maybelline Cosmetics spokesmodel in the 1980s.
- John McArran: founder of the McArran Film Company, a British film production company established in 1904.
- David McArran: British-born Canadian author and playwright well-known for his plays 'Saltwater Boys' and 'The Hrass of Love'.
- Orlando McArran: Professional rugby player who played for the Scotland national rugby union team from 1908 to 1910.
- Prudence McArran: Award-winning Irish writer and former film editor who has written several books, including 'Dark Horizons'.
- William McArran: Award-winning composer and conductor who has conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony.
- Thomas McArran: American football player who played in the National Football League for the New York Giants from 1922 to 1923.