This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Moran family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Moran Family History

Moran Surname Meaning

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Móráin ‘descendant of Mórán’ a personal name meaning ‘great’ ‘large’; the stress is normally on the first syllable. Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Moghráin earlier Ó Mughróin ‘descendant of Mughrón’ a personal name derived from mug ‘slave’ and rón ‘seal’.

It may also be a shortened form of McMorran based on the same personal name. English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): variant of Morrin normally pronounced with the stress on the second syllable.

Spanish (Morán): habitational name from any of the places called Morán in Asturias, Galicia (Pontevedra), and Aragon (Zaragoza).

Altered form of French Morin.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Moran family from?

You can see how Moran families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Moran family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Moran families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 2,239 Moran families living in Lancashire. This was about 46% of all the recorded Moran's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Moran families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Moran surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Moran ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Moran. 16% of Moran men worked as a General Labourer and 63% of Moran women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Moran were Farm Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Moran | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    16%
  • Builders Labourer
    9%
  • Bricklayer
    4%
  • Farm Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    63%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Moran family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 456,000 census records available for the last name Moran. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Moran census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Moran

Passenger Lists

There are 93,000 immigration records available for the last name Moran. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Moran immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 82,000 military records available for the last name Moran. For the veterans among your Moran ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Moran military records

You've only scratched the surface of Moran family history

Discover More

What is the average Moran lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Moran life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Moran in 1940 was 31, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Moran

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Moran ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Moran family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial