The McMORRANs of the USA
This page was created 4 August1998 and last modified 17 December 2002

At least 3 dozen individuals with the McMorran name appear to have emigrated to the USA over the last 300 years both from Scotland and from Ireland.  Some of these families have seeded branches to Canada and even Australia. Most of the immigrants arrived in the latre 19th and erarly 20th century but several families can lay claims to pioneering status in the areas they settled.

The earliest emigrant I have yet found is James McMorran whose name appeared in a list of emigrant Ministers to America 1690-1811. His occupation is given as a clerk and destination Maryland, with an arrival date of 16 Mar 1709-1710.

John and Elizabeth MackMorran/McMorran had at least three children in Windsor Twp, Hartford, Connecticut: John b. 27 Jul 1729, d. 17 Jul 1730, another John b.17 May 1731 and Elizabeth b. 18 Aug 1735. It appears John snr. died some time prior to Mar 1748 and his widow Elizabeth remarried to widower Daniel Haydon and herself died in 1776.

John McMorren/McMoran, the second born son of the previous couple and Mindwell Thrall were married in 1758 had eight children in Duffield Township, Hartford, Connecticut from 1758-80. Ezekiel Thrall married Elizabeth McMorran married in 1763 and at least five daughters.

Windsor, Hartford Co, Connecticut Vital Records

John Mackmorran, son of John Mackmorran and Elizabeth his wife was born July the 27th A D 1729
John McMorran, son of John McMorran and Elizabeth his wife dyed July the 17th A D 1730
John, son of John Macmorran and Elizabeth his wife being the second of theirs that name was born May 17th A D 1731
Elizabeth, daughter of John Macmoran and Elizabeth his wife was born August 18th A D 1735
Daniel Haydon Junr and Elisabeth ye widow of Mr. John McMorands were married Apriel 13 1748
Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Danll Haydon dyed October 18th A D 1740
Mrs. Elizabeth Haydon the wife of Mr. Daniel Haydon dyed February 18th day 1776

John McMorren and Mindwell Thrall both of Windsor were married February 16th 1758
Mindwell Thrall; born 24 Feb 1738/39; married John Morand

Ezekiel Thrall and Elizabeth McMorran both of Windsor were married July 26th 1763
Elizabeth, daughter of Ezekiel Thrall and Elizabeth his wife was born Apriel 24th A D 1764
Mindwell, daughter of Ezekiel Thrall and Elizabeth his wife was born Apriel 12th day 1767
Lydia, daughter of Ezekiel Thrall and Elizabeth his wife was born April 22nd 1769
Chloe, daughter of Ezekiel Thrall and Elizabeth his wife was born July 2 1771
Luke Winchell; married Eunice Thrall, daughter of Ezekiel Thrall and Elizabeth McMorran

Samuel McMorran who was born in 1785 in Pennsylvania was said to be of Scottish parentage. He grew up in Pennsylvania, then moved to New York where he farmed before finally settling in Ohio in 1811 or 1812, eventually in Champaign County and he established a large family that accounts for most of the McMorrans who have lived in that state. The extracts taken from the book "THE HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO, CONTAINING A History of the County; its Cities, Towns, etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Map of Champaign County; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, etc., etc." CHICAGO: W. R. BEERS & CO., 1881 are copied directly from the hyperlinked sites appear below:

pp. 739-40 Jackson Township - Biographical Sketches

JOHN McMORRAN, farmer; P. O. St. Paris. To the gentleman whose name appears above we are pleased to give more than a passing notice. He is the son of Samuel and Barbara (Heaston) McMorran, who were among the pioneers of this county. She was a native of Virginia, born in 1789; he was born in 1785, in Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood. About ten years of his life were spent in the State of New York, where he was engaged in clearing up a farm. In 1811 or 1812, he emigrated to Ohio, and settled near Dayton, Montgomery Co., then went to Champaign Co. three years later. In 1815, he entered a quarter-section of land in Johnson Township, and set about clearing up a farm ; and, of course, had to contend with the hardships and inconveniences of the times. Cincinnati was their principal market. Thither, over roads that to-day would be considered impassable, they took their produce, flour and bacon, and there procured their salt and iron-about the only two articles they were compelled to buy. Time works mighty changes. The pioneers lived on plain food and enjoyed life; their descendants gormandize and die premature deaths from the effects. Mr. McMorran has served as Township Trustee in both Johnson and Jackson Townships, and was a juror in the Common Pleas Court for many years. He was the father of eight children, six of whom survived their infancy and grew to maturity - John, Christian, Eliza (now Mrs. Simeon Pence), Samuel, Jacob and James. The latter died at the age of 22, shortly after marriage. John, the subject of this sketch, was born in Johnson Township, Champaign Co., Oct. 5, 1815 ; was raised to agricultural pursuits, which has been his occupation through life. He has divided something near 500 acres of land among his children, and still owns about 118 acres. He married Sidney Wiant in 1838. She was born in December, 1819, and departed this life Aug.25, 1849, the mother of three children-Sarah Jane, now Mrs. T. Schooler ; Samuel, and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Strock. In 1852, he married Amy Riker. She was born in October, 1824. The issue of this marriage were three children, two of whom grew to years of maturity-Mary, now Mrs. William H. Jones, and Eliza, now Mrs. Garehart. Mr. McMorran and wife and three children are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

p. 756 Johnson Township - Biographical Sketches

CHRISTIAN McMORRAN, farmer; P. O. St. Paris; is a son of Samuel McMorran, Sr., who was of Scotch parentage. They came to America before the war of Independence. Samuel, Sr., was born in 1785, in Pennsylvania. After spending his minor years in his native State, he became a resident of New York State until 1813, when lie came West, locating in Montgomery Co., Ohio. One year later he removed to Johnson Township, purchasing eighty acres of land, now owned by William Apple. This, in connection with two other farms, he took from its wilds during life. While a resident of Montgomery Co., Ohio, he married Barbara Heaston, born in Virginia in 1789. She came to Ohio with her parents when but a child. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel, Sr., had six children, and each of them received a liberal heirship. Samuel, Sr., died in 1863, and Barbara in 1864. Our subject was born in 1823, in Jackson Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, and raised to farm life. He enjoyed the usual common schools of the day. In 1848, he married Sarah Loudenback, and commenced the channel of life for himself as a farmer, which ire has since continued. His first and only location was on a part of his present firm, but he now owns 520 acres under a good state of cultivation. This lie conducts on a good principle, and shows himself as an enterprising farmer. His wife was born in 1825, in Mad River Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, and, after a companionship of ten years, she was called hence. His second wife was a younger surer, Susan Loudenback, born in 1830. Four children were born to each union; all are now living, eight in number. Mr. McMorran's wives were daughters of Reuben and Mary Loudenback, who were early settlers in the county; but have long since passed away.

CAPT. S. T. McMORRAN, attorney at law, St. Paris; born in Jackson Township in 1831, and raised on his father's farm, in Johnson Township. His elementary education was acquired in the common schools, and improved at the Delaware and other colleges of Ohio. His marriage with Susan Brubaker was celebrated in March, 1855. In the fall of 1861, he rapidly closed up his private affairs and raised a company of soldiers; he entered the service as Captain of Co. C, 66th O. V. I. In November of the same fall, they entered Camp McArthur, at Urbana, remaining until January, 1862, when they joined Gen. Landers in Virginia. In the same spring, they were engaged in the battle of Port Republic, in which Capt. McMorran was slightly wounded. Aug. 9, while participating in the battle of Cedar Mountains, he received a second wound, which disabled him for service, and to-day leaves him affected. He returned home in January 1863; joined the military Home Guard, which was mustered into service the same spring, continuing out 100 days. Thus has he shown a helping hand in the military duties of our country. On May 1, 1865, he associated with Isaac Brubaker in the organization of the first systematized bank of St. Paris. This received his supervision for twelve years, when he retired from its duties and engaged regularly ill the profession o£ law. In the same year the bank was organized, Capt. Mc.Morran was elected as Representative from his native county to the State Legislature, where he served so honorably that two years later he was re-elected, thereby being a member of that distinguished body two successive terms. Mr. and Mrs. McMorran were the parents of two sons-Isaac N. and one who died in infancy. Mrs. McMorran is a native of Champaign Co., born in 1840.

Row 8/No. 84    Elizabeth McMorran, died Aug. 1, 1866.  Inscription: age 74 yrs 6 mo & 15 das; wife of Wm. McMorran

Sande MacMorran is Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Tennessee's Music Department, and the Associate Conductor and Tubaist with the Knoxville Symphony.
Mr. MacMorran is Music Director of the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Programs, and has been Conductor of the Youth Orchestra since 1979.
In addition to conducting regularly for the Appalachian Ballet, Mr. MacMorran has conducted the Cincinnati Ballet in Knoxville performances as well as the Knoxville Ballet in its premier of Kenton Loe's Legend of Candy's Creek. He has also conducted many opera productions at U.T., and has been a resident conductor for the Southeastern Music Center in Columbus, Georgia.  As a tubaist, Mr. MacMorran performs with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and throughout the Southeast as a member of the Brasswind Quintet. He was a founding member of the Army Brass Quintet while serving with the United States Army Band in Washington DC, and has returned often as a soloist with the Army Band, Brass Band, and Orchestra. (from: http://techno-info.com/YouthAliyah/judges-98.html)

McMorran, Harold Wayne, b. 02/27/1931, d. 07/17/1987, US Navy, SA, Res: Pensacola, FL, Plot: 35 0 1559, bur. 07/24/1987, Barrancas National Cemetery Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida

McMorran, Hugh T, b. 06/07/1888, d. 05/12/1961, 1ST SGT CO B 160 INF 40 DIV USA, Plot: 706, bur. 05/18/1961, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery Point Loma, San Diego County, California

McMorran , William Richard, b. 03/22/1920, d. 05/16/1951, CPL USA, Plot: M 387, bur. 05/08/1952, Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Mateo County, California.

Burials Burlingame City Cemetery, Burlingame, Osage County, Kansas:
McMorran, Gertrude, b. 1891, d. 1975
McMorran, Harry T, b. 1881, d. 1956
McMorran, Robert F, b. 1949, d. 1949
McMorran, Thomas D, b. 1947, d. 1947

LaPorte County Indiana Deaths:
MCMORRAN, George b.  7/24/1896, IN, d. June,1971, Residence MICHIGAN CITY
MCMORRAN, Gertrude, 3/24/1899, IN, Aug.,1987, Residence MICHIGAN CITY

Times Online Obituaries : Erwin A. "Pat" McMorran, 90, of Chippewa Township, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999, in the Beaver Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, South Beaver
Township. Born April 23, 1908, in Fox Chapel, a son of the late Russell C. and Elizabeth (Lebo) McMorran, he was retired from the West Mayfield plant of the Babcock & Wilcox Company in yard shipping. He was Catholic by faith and a member of Senior Citizens of Beaver County. He was also an avid bowler and golfer. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Mildred A. Young McMorran, whom he married Oct. 10, 1935; a daughter-in-law, Carolyn McMorran, Fallston, Md.; a sister, Marion Claus, Etna, Pa., and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sons, William E. McMorran in 1942 and Robert "Bob" McMorran in 1998. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the LUTTON CHIPPEWA FUNERAL HOME, 117 Blackhawk Rd., where a blessing service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m., with Father J. Francis Frazer of St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Chippewa Township. A prayer service will be held today at 8:30 p.m. in the funeral home.

Harvard Magazine Obituaries 2000: PIERCE MATTHEW MCMORRAN '31cl, M.B.A. '33, died September 16 in Natick, Mass. He was a retired budget analyst with New England Telephone Co., where he worked for 37 years. He also served on the board of the Bay Path Council for Elder Affairs and was an avid stamp collector and a member of the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Society. He leaves his wife, Alba (Venanzi), two daughters, Roberta Edson and Diana Lathrop, and a son, David.