Show ContentsMaccorcoran History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Maccorcoran

What does the name Maccorcoran mean?

The name Maccorcoran comes from the Gaelic Mac Corcrain or Ó Corcrain, both of which are derived from the word "corcair," which now means purple, but originally meant ruddy. 1

Early Origins of the Maccorcoran family

The surname Maccorcoran was first found in County Fermanagh (Irish: Fear Manach) in the southwestern part of Northern Ireland, Province of Ulster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Maccorcoran family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Maccorcoran research. Another 194 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1001, 1172, 1373, 1641, 1691, 1827, 1861 and 1863 are included under the topic Early Maccorcoran History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Maccorcoran Spelling Variations

Names during the Middle Ages were typically recorded as they sounded and in many cases, one's surname spelling changed with each record. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origin of the Maccorcoran family name include MacCorcoran, O'Corcoran and others.

Early Notables of the Maccorcoran family

More information is included under the topic Early Maccorcoran Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Maccorcoran family

Irish families began leaving their homeland for North America in the late 18th century. These families were usually modestly well off, but they were looking forward to owning and working on a sizable tract of land of their own. This pattern of emigration continued until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine sparked a major exodus of destitute and desperate Irish people. These people were not leaving for a grant of land in North America because by this time the East Coast had reached its saturation point and free land was scarce. They were merely looking to escape the disease, starvation, and hopelessness that Ireland had fallen into. Although these unfortunate immigrants did not receive a warm welcome by the established populations in the United States and what would become Canada, they were absolutely critical to the rapid development that these two nations enjoyed. They would help populate the western lands and provide the cheap labor required for a rapid industrialization. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many early bearers of the name Maccorcoran or one of its variants: Thomas Corcoran who settled in New York State in 1811; Edward Corcoran, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1825; Andrew Corcoran, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1832.



The Maccorcoran Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In fide et in bello fortis
Motto Translation: Strong in both faith and war.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook