Surname Corkan - Meaning and Origin

Corkan: What does the surname Corkan mean?

The last name Corkan is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word 'corcán' which can refer to either a small round hill or a small round rock. The word may also have come from the Irish Gaelic word 'corc' meaning 'ditch', either referring to the geographical features of the area in which the family originated from or perhaps to the ditch used to create small walls to separate fields.

Other possible derivations of the word come from French-Norman surnames such as Corcaine or from the English words 'corks' or 'corking', referring to the occupation of the family or to a hobby.

The Corkan surname is most common in Ireland, especially County Galway, and in the United States, particularly in North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey and New York. It is also found in Canada.

No research into the family history of those bearing the Corkan surname has been carried out yet, but it is likely that the surname dates back to at least the 16th century.

In Ireland, the Corkan name has historical associations with a Gaelic tribal group known as the O'Corkans, who were associated with County Galway. The O'Corkain family was famous for brewing, which may be why some Corkans were involved in the creation of the whiskey brand associated with the Corkan surname.

Corkan: Where does the name Corkan come from?

The last name Corkan can be found across Europe, primarily in Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Belgium, Italy, and Germany. In the United States, the Corkan surname appears most prominently in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, New Jersey, California, and Texas.

In terms of ethnicity, Corkans come from a mix of backgrounds. Although Irish heritage is commonly associated with the name, the surname also has a British, Scottish, and French origin.

The most commonly cited origin story of the Corkan surname is that it originated in Ireland and was derived from a placename. Specifically, the surname is thought to be derived from the placename 'Corkanstown' in County Kilkenny. It is believed that the placename itself was derived from the Irish “Corcán”, which was a personal name.

More recently, the Corkan surname has continued to remain concentrated in its European origins. However, due to the large influx of Irish immigrants to North American colonies in the 1800s, the Corkan surname has become increasingly common in the United States, especially in Pennsylvania and other northeastern states.

Variations of the surname Corkan

The surname Corkan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname O Corcáin. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include:

Corcoran (Irish)

Corcan (Irish)

Corken (Irish)

Corkin (Irish)

Carkin (Irish)

Corican (Irish)

Corkham (Irish)

Corcken (Irish)

Corkon (Irish)

Corkran (Irish)

Corker (Irish)

Corkern (Irish)

Corkran (Irish)

McCorkin (Irish)

McCorkran (Irish)

McCorker (Irish)

McCorken (Irish)

McCorcan (Irish)

MacCorkan (Irish)

McCorkan (Irish)

Creckan (Irish)

Crockan (Irish)

Coraghan (Irish)

Cornegan (Irish)

Corneghan (Irish)

Cornean (Irish)

Cornan (Irish).

The surname Corkan is linked to both of the two principal branches of Irish Gaelic, Connacht and Munster, which is even reflected in several of its variants. It is1 primarily a name of Munster origin, and despite its somewhat limited distribution across the country, it is a name with a long history of being used by old Irish clans. Specificallly, evidence suggests that Corkan may have first been used by the O'Corkan clan of County Cork, one of the minor ruling clans in Munster with a direct connection to the O'Sullivan clan, the rulers of the region at the time.

Famous people with the name Corkan

• Michael Corkan: a British actor and voiceover artist who has notably appeared on the stage in various Shakespeare plays.
• William Corkan: an English cricketer who played for Sussex County Cricket Club between 1932 and 1934.
• Brenna Corkan: a Canadian figure skater who finished 18th at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
• Leanne Corkan: a Canadian singer-songwriter who has released several EP's.
• Molly Corkan: an American children's author and illustrator behind the popular series 'The Adventures of Hal and Bear.'
• Taimi Corkan: a New Zealand actor best known for playing Ferris on the TV drama 'Outrageous Fortune.'
• Joseph Corkan: an American visual effects artist who is known for his work on blockbuster movies such as 'Avatar.'
• Chloe Corkan: a British fashion designer who specialises in creating sustainable clothing for women.
• Mike Corkan: a British associations football player who represented Reading Football Club from 2003 to 2004.
• Joel Corkan: an Irish artist and street photographer who has had several exhibitions in Dublin.

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