McSporran History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

McSporran is an ancient Dalriadan-Scottish nickname for a person who carried a sporran, which is the purse worn with the kilt in Highland Scottish dress. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac-an-sporain, which means son of the purse.

Early Origins of the McSporran family

The surname McSporran was first found in on the Isle of Iona, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the McSporran family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McSporran research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1745 is included under the topic Early McSporran History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McSporran Spelling Variations

Medieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. McSporran has been written as MacSporran, MacSparran and others.

Early Notables of the McSporran family

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

McSporran migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McSporran Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Robert McSporran, aged 37, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Algoa Bay" in 1881
Mary McSporran, aged 28, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Algoa Bay" in 1881
Archibald McSporran, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Algoa Bay" in 1881
Hugh Gordon McSporran, aged 4, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Algoa Bay" in 1881
Margaret McSporran, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Algoa Bay" in 1881
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McSporran (post 1700) +

Willie McSporran MBE, Scottish former chair of the Hebridean Isle of Gigha's Heritage Trust, brother of Seamus McSporran
Seamus McSporran BEM (b. 1938), Scottish tradesman, postmaster and shopkeeper holding 14 jobs for 31 years on the Scottish island of Gigha (population 150). He received the British Empire Medal for his diligent work
Jermaine McSporran (b. 1977), English semi-professional footballer

The McSporran 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: Per mare per terras
Motto Translation: By sea and by land.