Joe Anthony Moran

Moran (Irish: Ó Móráin) is a modern Irish surname that derives from membership in a medieval dynastic Sept, Clan, or Family.  The meaning of the name is "a descendant of the Big One, or Great One".  The word “Mor” in Gaelic translates as big or great and “an” as the prefix the.  Moran's were a respected sept of the Uí Fiachrach dynasty in the western counties of Mayo and Sligo in Ireland.  In Ireland, where the name descended from the Gaelic language, it is generally pronounced "MORR-ən" or "Morin", the anglicized approximate of the Irish pronunciation.  Elsewhere, the pronunciation follows the French surname, Morant, anglicised to "mə-RAN" or "morr-AN".   There are many different crests for Moran, many bearing three stars and the motto "Lucent in tenebris", Latin for "They shine in darkness".  Many Moran crests bear the motto: 'Fides non timet.' "  This motto translates as "Faith does not fear" or "The Faithful Fear Not".  Many crests include the description of an African or Moor. The majority bearers of this surname in County Mayo are descended from the Ó Móráin sept whose ancient kingdom was in north Mayo, surrounding the modern town of Ballina.  Following the Norman invasion ,during the late 12th century, their territory was usurped by the Barretts and Burkes, and the sept lost its central organisation. The modern distribution of the surname within Mayo suggests that the Morans spread southwards and today are chiefly found in the central area of the county, particularly in the barony of Carra. The difficulties brought to Ireland as a result of the English conquest, with their repressive and punitive laws designed to keep the average Irish from getting ahead with dignity, led to the great migration of the Irish.  Many Moran's endured in Ireland, or joined the English in their wars as soldiers.  Many Irish, along with many Moran's, left the repressive laws of Protestant England, and ventured towards the friendly shores of Catholic Spain.  After the Spanish conquest of America, and the formation, and revolution of the English thirteen colonies, the Moran name spread to English and Spanish speaking America, and to the entire world.  The name Moran today is a well established surname that can be commonly found in most countries around the world, including: all European Countries, English America (USA) and Canada, all Latin American Countries, many asian countries (Phillipines, Indonesia, etc) and Russia along with many muslim middle eastern countries (possibly associated with the Moor invasion of Spain).  The next time you meet a Moran, buy them a Guiness beer, and make a new friend.