Corkren History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Corkren

What does the name Corkren mean?

The name Corkren 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 Corkren family

The surname Corkren 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 Corkren family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Corkren 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 Corkren History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Corkren Spelling Variations

Many variations of the name Corkren were found in archives from the Middle Ages. Names during the Middle Ages were typically recorded as they sounded and in many cases, one's surname spelling changed with each record.The spelling and language in which the people's names were recorded was often up to the individual scribe. Variations of the name Corkren found include MacCorcoran, O'Corcoran and others.

Early Notables of the Corkren family

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

Migration of the Corkren family

Irish families fled the English-colonized Ireland in record numbers during the 19th century for North America. Many of those destitute families died from disease during, and even shortly after, the long journey. Although those that immigrated before the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s often were granted a tract of land, those that arrived later were generally accommodated in urban centers or in work camps. Those in the urban centers would labor in the manufacturing sector, whereas those in work camps would to build critical infrastructures such as bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Regardless of when these Irish immigrants came to North America, they were critical for the rapid development of the young nations of the United States and Canada. Early immigration and passenger lists have recorded many early immigrants bearing the name of Corkren: 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 Corkren 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.

Sources +

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