Corcoran Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Corcoran last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Corcoran last name
Meaning of the Corcoran last name: descendant of Corcrán ("purple" or "ruddy"). Corcoran is an anglicized form of Ó Corcráin, "descendant of Corcrán", a personal name built on corcair, "purple", perhaps describing a ruddy complexion. Two separate septs carried it: one in Fermanagh, where the family were hereditary churchmen around Lough Erne, and another in Munster, in the counties of Tipperary, Kerry and Cork. Famine-era emigration took many Corcorans to New York, Boston and Philadelphia. The Fermanagh family were erenaghs, hereditary tenants and keepers of church lands, a common role for learned families in medieval Ireland. The Munster Corcorans were especially numerous in Tipperary and in the counties around Cork Harbour. Spelling variants include Corcorane and MacCorcoran. In the 19th century the name was also brought to England and Scotland by Irish workers. Corcoran families are now widespread in Ireland, the United States, England and Australia.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Corcoran name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Corcoran name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Corcoran name FAQ
What does the Corcoran name mean?
Descendant of Corcrán ("purple" or "ruddy"). Common variants include O'Corcoran, Corcorane, Cochrane.
Where does the Corcoran surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Corcoran coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Corcoran crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Corcoran coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).