NameCensus.

UK surname

Ocran

From the Irish Gaelic "ó Corráin" meaning descendant of Corrán.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Wandsworth and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ocran is 132 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

2016

132 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Ocran surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ocran surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ocran surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ocran over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1997 modern 43 #33,361
1998 modern 47 #33,197
1999 modern 53 #32,746
2000 modern 57 #32,417
2001 modern 66 #31,394
2002 modern 72 #31,269
2003 modern 80 #30,425
2004 modern 90 #29,481
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 96 #29,339
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 103 #29,127
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 127 #26,634
2015 modern 127 #26,494
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Ocrans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Wandsworth, Haringey and Newham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 025 Hackney
2 Wandsworth 012 Wandsworth
3 Haringey 013 Haringey
4 Newham 012 Newham
5 Hackney 021 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ocran

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ocran surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ocran

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ocran, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Ocran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ocran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ocran is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ocran is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ocran falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ocran is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ocran, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of 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.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ocran surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ocran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Ocran a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Ocran surname mean?

From the Irish Gaelic "ó Corráin" meaning descendant of Corrán.

What does the Ocran map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ocran bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.