This interesting and unusual surname is of Irish origin and is usually found as Mac Rann, itself a variant of the name Mac Crann, which is a synonym of (Mac) Rinn. The derivation of this patronymic (son of) is from the Gaelic "Mac Bheoin", meaning son of the Raven, probably originally a nickname given to someone with the fancied attributes of this bird. Apparently there is no connection between the two distinct sept O' Rinn of Cork and this sept which originates in County Leitrim. One Patrick Rann is recorded as emigrating from Belfast to the Port of New York, America in 1847, and the name is also found in marriage records in St. Munchin's, Limerick, with the marriage of Sarah Rann and Charles Houly on November 5th 1765. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of James Rann, which was dated 1630, in the London (marriage Licences), during the reign of King Charles 1, known as "The Martyr", 1625 - 1649. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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