Show ContentsMcCranie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of McCranie

What does the name McCranie mean?

The ancestors of the McCranie surname are thought to have lived in the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The name McCranie was given to someone who lived on the island of Jura in the Inner Hebrides. The name is derived from Gaelic Mac Crain. 1

Early Origins of the McCranie family

The surname McCranie was first found in the islands of Jura and Islay, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the McCranie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCranie research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1625, 1649, 1856 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McCranie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCranie Spelling Variations

The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years McCranie has appeared as MacCraney, Craney, Crainey, MacCrain, McCranie, MacCranny, MacCranne, MacCranney, MacCrayne and many more.

Early Notables of the McCranie family

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

McCranie Ranking

In the United States, the name McCranie is the 15,128th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Migration of the McCranie family to Ireland

Some of the McCranie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


McCranie migration to the United States +

Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

McCranie Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • L.A. McCranie, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States, in 1921
  • Laurrie McCranie, who landed in America, in 1921
  • Laurrie McCranie, aged 27, who settled in America, in 1922

McCranie migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McCranie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mary McCranie, aged 25, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" 3

Contemporary Notables of the name McCranie (post 1700) +

  • ? McCranie, American family of turpentine distillers in Willacoochee, Georgia; for generations they operated McCranie's Turpentine Still which is now added to the National Register of Historic Places
  • Burgess McCranie (1905-1977), American politician, 7th Mayor of Bossier City, Louisiana (1953-1957)


The McCranie 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: Amor proximi
Motto Translation: The love of our neighbor.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. South Australian Register Monday 14th May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Europa 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/europa1855.shtml


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