This is a very confusing surname. As O'Morahan, O'Moran, and Morahan, it is clearly of Irish origins, but as Mohring, Moorin, Mooring, Mooringe, Moran, Morin, Morain, Morring, and others which are also recorded in France, Ireland and England, it can be from any of those countries. Taking Ireland first, the modern spelling originates from the pre 10th century Olde Gaelic O' Murchain, meaning the son of the descendant of Murdoch, and in the forms above has been very popular in counties Offally and Kildare since at least 1659 when it is shown to be the most numerous name in at least five baronies. Secondly in England the surname originated from the word "Moor" and was given as a nickname to people of swarthy appearance. The surname is ancient and was first recorded towards the middle of the 12th Century (see below) whilst recordings from the mid 17th century onwards indicate that it was also re-introduced by French Huguenot refugees fleeing religious persecutions. Early examples of the surname recordings in surviving registers of the city of London include Anthonie Mooring at the church of Holy Trinity the Lees on May 11th 1648, Auger Morin, christened at the French Huguenot Church, Threadneedle Street, London, on July 3rd 1692, and William Moran christened at St. Anne's Soho, Westminster on June 1st 1693. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Morin, which was dated circa 1140, in the Documents relating to the Danelaw for the city of London, during the reign of King Stephen, known as "Count of Blois", 1135 - 1154. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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