Surname McClaran - Meaning and Origin
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McClaran: What does the surname McClaran mean?
The last name McClaran is of Scottish origin and it is derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Labhrainn, which translates to "son of Labhran." Labhran itself is the Scottish Gaelic variant of Lawrence, a given name that means "from Laurentum," a town in ancient Italy. Therefore, the surname McClaran means "son of Lawrence" or "descendant of Lawrence." The surname shows a familial relationship to a patriarch, Lawrence in this case. There may be variations in spelling and pronunciation due to regional dialects and the passage of time. Like many surnames, McClaran was likely used to identify individuals in a large community, making it easier to tell who was related to whom and who was a stranger.
Order DNA origin analysisMcClaran: Where does the name McClaran come from?
The McClaran surname is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic, MacLabhrainn, which translates to "son of Labhran" or "son of Lawrence". The complete lineage of the name stretches back to a branch of the Clan MacLaren, a renowned Scottish Highland Clan.
In the earlier centuries, many Scottish families migrated to various parts of the world due to political unrest, famine, and economic hardships. A considerable number of people bearing the McClaran surname emigrated to the United States, especially during the Great Irish Famine in the 19th century. Because of this, the surname can be commonly found in the United States today, particularly in states with a significant Scotch-Irish population such as Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas. However, the name also continues to be prevalent in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom. It should be noted the spelling variation can impact where the surname is most common; McClaran and similar variants such as McClaren or McLarin may be found in different locales.
Variations of the surname McClaran
The surname McClaran is derived from the Gaelic MacLabhrain (Son of Labhran or Lawrence), and is rooted in the region of Scotland. Various iterations and spellings of this surname have evolved over the years, stemming from historical fluctuations in linguistic practices and regional dialects.
Variants of the surname McClaran include McLarren, McLerran, Mcclerran, McClerron, Mclerron, McLaron, McLeran and McLaurin. The name can also appear with or without the "Mc" or "Mac" prefix, and sometimes with an "a" replacing the "e" (i.e. McLaren, Mclaren). Some versions also adjust the ending, such as McLarney and McLarnon.
In similar vein, there are spelling variations like MacLaren, MacClaren, MacLaron and MacLaurin. The spelling of the surname also has been anglicized in many versions such as Lawrence, Laurence, and similar variations. This change in spelling and pronunciation typically occurred when families emigrated, particularly noted during the highland clearances when many Scots relocated to the New World of the Americas and Australia.
Sometimes double-barrelled surnames can occur, usually hyphenated, which could potentially include McClaran as one part of the hyphenated surname.
Famous people with the name McClaran
- Melinda McClaran: An American actor best known for her role in the supernatural horror film “The Possession”.
- Charles McClaran: An American voice actor known for providing the voice of Dr. Light in the animated television series “Mega Man”.
- Barry McClaran: A retired American basketball player who played for the San Antonio Spurs in the 1980s.
- Shane McClaran: An American stock car racing driver who won the 2004 ARCA race at Rockingham Speedway.
- Neil McClaran: An English former football player who played for the Manchester City and Chelsea teams in the 1980s.
- Ruth McClaran: A Scottish-American singer and songwriter who is best known for her Christmas song “Angels We Have Heard on High”.
- Sean McClaran: A former American college basketball player who played for the University of Connecticut in the early 2000s.
- Jennifer McClaran: An American former professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour in the 1980s.
- Maureen McClaran: An American author best known for her book “Summer of the Raven”.
- Cat McClaran: An American country music singer-songwriter who has released two albums, “Dirt Road Blues” and “Love Me Tonight”.