Surname Crossan - Meaning and Origin
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Crossan: What does the surname Crossan mean?
Crossan is a surname of Irish origin. The Gaelic form of the name is "Ó Corráin" which means "descendant of Corrán". The name Corrán itself is derived from the Gaelic word "corr" meaning "spear". Therefore, the last name could be interpreted as "descendant of the spear bearer". This could imply that the initial bearers of the surname were likely warriors or fighters. Like many Irish surnames, Crossan is also associated with specific regions, particularly in County Donegal and County Derry in the northern part of Ireland. Over the years, the surname has been anglicized in various forms such as O'Corrane, Corran, Corrin, and finally Crossan. Regardless of its variants, the last name Crossan carries a rich historical and cultural legacy linked to its Irish roots.
Order DNA origin analysisCrossan: Where does the name Crossan come from?
The surname Crossan is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Chrosáin" which translates to "son of the Cross". It is believed to have originated from Donegal in North West Ireland. This surname was quite common among the medieval Irish chieftains in that region.
Today, the surname Crossan is common in both its native Ireland and abroad, particularly in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to Irish diaspora over the centuries. In Ireland, it remains quite prevalent in Ulster, mainly in Donegal, and parts of County Londonderry. It is less common in other parts of the world. Nevertheless, like many other Irish surnames, the global presence of Crossan is a testament to the historical emigration patterns of the Irish population, especially during the period of the Great Famine in the 19th century. Keep in mind though, the spelling may vary and can include Crosson, McCrossan, and McCrosson.
Variations of the surname Crossan
Crossan is a surname derived from the Irish Gaelic term 'Mac an Chrosáin,' which means 'son of the little cross.' It is particularly associated with Donegal in the northwest of Ireland. Over time, it has been anglicized into several spellings and variations. These include Cresson, Crossin, Crosan, Crossen, Crosson, Crossun, and Crossane. The rare surname Croisan may also be a variant.
In many cases, the Mac prefix was dropped, leading to the names becoming simply Crossan, Crosson, etc. However, it may sometimes be reinstated, leading to variants such as MacCrossan and McCrossan. In areas where English domination was stronger, the name might be further Anglicized to Crossman or Crosman.
Occasionally, pronunciation-based spellings may also arise, such as Croughan or Croghan, though these tend to be rare exceptions. Additionally, the anglicization process sometimes led to certain unrelated surnames, like Crosbie or Crosby, being mistakenly associated with Crossan.
In general, any variants like these listed are likely to have arisen from the original Crossan due to regional dialect, pronunciation differences, or transcription errors, and thus could be considered surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Crossan
- John Dominic Crossan: An Irish-American New Testament scholar, historian of early Christianity, and former Roman Catholic priest known for co-founding the Jesus Seminar.
- Joseph F. Crossan: An American economist who served as President of the American Economics Association.
- Paul Crossan: A retired Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
- Annie Crossan: An Irish sportsperson, she is a camogie player who has represented her county and country at the highest level.
- Sean Crossan: A Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Stranraer.
- Frank D. Crossan: A former engineer and astronaut candidate from the United States.
- Philip Crossan: An American mathematician known for his work on the theory of algorithms.
- Rosie Crossan: A British actress prominently known for her work in theater productions.