Corcoran is an Irish surname, the original Irish language form being meaning 'descendant of Corcrán'. The name itself is derived from meaning 'purple'. History The name Corcoran is an anglicisation of the names of two Gaelic clans. The first was the Ó Corcráin in Ulster. The second was the MacCorcráin clan from Leinster, which was a sept of Ó Corcráin. Related variations of the name Corcoran historically include MacCorcoran, O'Corcoran, and Corcorran. The Corcorans were predominantly from Fermanagh and included a number of figures of historical importance such as the Bishop of Clogher in 1370 and Edmund O'Corcoran, "the hero of Limerick" (from the siege of 1691). Many Corcorans become members of the clergy between the tenth and fifteenth centuries, they became based around the vicinity of Lough Erne, County Fermanagh in Ulster. One member of the family, John Corcoran was appointed Bishop of Clogher in 1373. The O'Corcrain territory was invaded by the Normans in 1170 AD. During the Plantation of Ulster and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1649 AD, the Corcorans were scattered. Many settled on lands in Connaught, Munster and Leinster. Principally Offaly, Tipperary and Galway where the MacCorcorans had settled previously. Modern Today the surname is used throughout Ireland and throughout the Irish diaspora. Notable people with the surname Corcoran Ann Corcoran (born 1951), Australian politician Annette Corcoran (born 1930), American ceramist Barbara Corcoran (born 1949), real estate mogul, entrepreneur, and investor on ABC's "Shark Tank" Brian Ó Corcrán (died 1624?), poet Brian Corcoran (born 1973), former Irish sportsman Cahalan Ó Corcrán (died 1001), Abbot Danny Corcoran (disambiguation), several people Des Corcoran (1929–2004), Australian politician Donna Corcoran (born 1942), American former child actress Éamonn Corcoran (born 1978), former Irish sportsman Evan Corcoran (born 1964), American lawyer Farrel Corcoran, author and academic Felimidh Ó Corcrán (died 1522), Canon lawyer Fláithrí Ó Corcrán (died 1496), singer and harpist Frank Corcoran (born 1944), Irish composer Fred Corcoran (1905–1977), World Golf Hall of Famer James Corcoran (1770–1804), Irish rebel Jerry Corcoran (1893–1981), American football player and executive Jim Corcoran (born 1949), Canadian musician Jimmy Corcoran (1819–1900), gangster Johannes O Corcoran OSB (died c. 1389), Bishop of Clogher John Corcoran (disambiguation), several people Kevin Corcoran (1949–2015), American director, producer and former child actor Larry Corcoran (1859–1891), American pitcher in Major League Baseball Michael Corcoran (1827–1863), American general and close confidant of Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War Niall Corcoran,