Home › Irish Surnames › Moran

Irish surname

Moran: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Móráin; Ó Mughróin · Ó Móráin: 'descendant of Mórán' (diminutive of mór, great); Ó Mughróin: 'descendant of Mughrón' (slave-seal)

Woulfe (1923) gives Moran as the anglicised form of two Irish surnames that he says are to be distinguished: Ó Móráin, a Ui Fiachrach family of Mayo and Sligo whose chief lived at Ardnaree near Ballina, and Ó Mughróin of Roscommon and Galway. Woulfe adds that O'Moran was a common surname in the 16th century in all parts of Connacht and Leinster. In 1890 Moran was Ireland's 56th commonest surname, about 11,800 people.

Shop Moran crest giftsRead the history
Coat of arms associated with the Moran surname
Irish formÓ Móráin; Ó Mughróin
MeaningÓ Móráin: 'descendant of Mórán' (diminutive of mór, great); Ó Mughróin: 'descendant of Mughrón' (slave-seal)
CountiesMayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Galway
Other spellings1

Origin of the Moran name

Ó Móráin: a branch of the Ui Fiachrach in Mayo and Sligo who ruled a district on both sides of the river Moy, chief at Ardnaree. Ó Mughróin (later Ó Moghráin): a chief family of Clann Chathail in Roscommon, and a Ui Maine branch, chiefs of Cruffon in Galway. Woulfe says the two names are to be distinguished.[1][2][3]

  1. 1500sO'Moran common across Connacht and Leinster, and in Ormond and Thomond.[1]
  2. 1739James O'Moran born at Elphin, 1 May.[5]
  3. 1792O'Moran made a general of division in the French army.[5]
  4. 1794General O'Moran guillotined, 6 March.[5]
  5. 1890265 Moran births registered, 132 in Connaught; 'found in nearly every county'.[6]

Where in Ireland

Co. MayoÓ Móráin chief seat at Ardnaree, near Ballina; 77 Moran entries in 1890, fifth in Mayo.[1][7]
Co. SligoWoulfe places the Ó Móráin branch of the Ui Fiachrach in the present counties of Mayo and Sligo.[1]
Co. RoscommonÓ Mughróin, one of the chief families of Clann Chathail.[2]
Co. GalwayÓ Mughróin chiefs of Cruffon (barony of Killyan and part of Ballymoe).[2]
Co. OffalyÓ Murcháin of Magh Aoife, 'often disguised as Morrins and Morans' (Woulfe).[4]
Co. DublinSecond county named for Moran births in 1890.[6]

Notable people named Moran

General James O'Moran1739–1794Born at Elphin; joined Dillon's regiment of the Irish Brigade in France and rose to general; guillotined in 1794.[5]

Other spellings

O'Moran[1][2][3]

The Moran coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Moran surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Moran crest gifts

Clan Omoran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap GG66 Omoran Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Omoran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45Clan Omoran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapRA29 Classic Cap - Omoran Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Omoran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Moran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapIX97 Classic Cap - Moran Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Moran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45

Moran surname: questions

What does the surname Moran mean?

Woulfe gives two Irish originals: Ó Móráin, 'descendant of Mórán' (diminutive of mór, great), and Ó Mughróin, 'descendant of Mughrón' (slave-seal).[1][2]

Where in Ireland is the Moran name from?

Woulfe places Ó Móráin in Mayo and Sligo, with the chief at Ardnaree near Ballina, and Ó Mughróin in Roscommon and Galway. In 1890 Moran was found mainly in Mayo, Dublin, Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim and Kerry.[1][2][6]

Is Moran an Irish name?

Woulfe gives Moran as an anglicised form of the Irish surnames Ó Móráin and Ó Mughróin. He also says an Offaly family, Ó Murcháin, still numerous in Kildare and Offaly, is often disguised as Morrins and Morans.[1][2][4]

Sources

  1. Ó Móráin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-morain.php
  2. Ó Mughróin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-mughroin.php
  3. Ó Moghráin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-moghrain.php
  4. Ó Murcháin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-murchain.php
  5. General James O'Moran — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/GeneralJamesOMoran.php
  6. Moran — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/moran.php
  7. Registration Province of Connaught (leading surnames by county, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/connaught-names.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).