Find out how popular the last name Ocran is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ocran.

Ocran, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ocran surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ocran in America

Ocran is the 96368th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ocran surname appeared 189 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ocran.

The history of the last name Ocran

The surname OCRAN is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands during the late 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "ocrann," which means "sharp or pointed rock." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near a prominent rocky outcrop or mountain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where a man named Dugal Ocrann is mentioned as a landowner in the region of Argyll. This indicates that the OCRAN family had established itself as minor nobility or landed gentry by the 13th century.

In the 15th century, a branch of the OCRAN clan settled in the Highlands region of Perthshire. Records from the town of Dunkeld in 1437 mention a Thomas Ocrane serving as a local magistrate. The spelling variation "Ocrane" was likely due to the influence of Middle English pronunciation at the time.

One of the most notable figures with the OCRAN surname was Sir William Ocran (1564-1623), a Scottish soldier and diplomat who served under King James VI. He was knighted for his role in negotiating the Union of the Crowns in 1603, which united the kingdoms of Scotland and England under one monarch.

Another prominent individual was Robert Ocran (1698-1772), a Scottish philosopher and educator who taught at the University of Glasgow. He was a proponent of the Scottish Enlightenment and wrote extensively on moral philosophy and education.

During the 18th century, the OCRAN surname began to appear more frequently in parish records across the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the counties of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. This suggests that members of the clan had migrated from their traditional Highland territories.

In the 19th century, several OCRAN families emigrated from Scotland to North America, seeking new opportunities and escaping the aftermath of the Highland Clearances. One notable figure was James Ocran (1820-1892), a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who established a successful logging company in Ontario.

The OCRAN surname has a rich history deeply rooted in the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. From its Gaelic origins to its spread throughout Scotland and beyond, the name has been carried by notable individuals in various fields, contributing to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ocran

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ocran.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ocran was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ocran was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ocran, please contact us.

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