The Highland surname Cranney has been prominent in adding a weighty influence to an already monumental image. From the sea swept Hebridean Islands and the mountainous western coast of Scotland, this surname has emerged as a notable family whose history is romanticized by the skirt of the bagpipes, the brandished sword, the tartan kilt and the highland games.
Professional analysts, using some of the oldest manuscripts, including Clan genealogies, the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Ragman Rolls, the Inquisitio, the Black Book, parish cartularies, baptismal records and tax records, and manyh other documents, found the name Cranney in the islands of Jura and Islay where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
The name Cranney was found to have many variations in spelling, particularly in transferring the name into and from Gaelic. The surname was originally MacBhranaigh Clan when the were Scottish Highlanders. Upon migrating to Northern Ireland, the name had changed to McCranney/MacCranney. It was sumtimes spelt MacCraney, Craney, Crainey, MacCrain, MacCranny, MacCranne, MacCrayne, MacRanie. These changes in spelling occured even between father and son. It was not uncommon for a clansman in his own lifetime to be born with one spelling, marry with another, and yet another to apear on his headstone. Sometimes a different spelling was used to claim a religious or clan affiliation or even a division of the family.
The Cranney Clan emerged as a Scottish Clan in their territory of Islay and Jura islands where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity, seated with manors and estates. Their first territories were recorded on the Island of Islay but it is more likely that they were of the more ancient Kingdom of Dalriada in northeastern Ireland. The name has been found in the counties of Armagh and down during the 15th and 16th centuries. Gil MacCran in Jura was reputed to have lived 180 years in his own house and his monument at Inverlussa is so inscribed.
Research has determined taht the above Coat of Arms to be the most ancient recorded for the clan surname Cranney.
The Cranney Clan originated from the Sept MacCrane/MacCrain of the Clan MacDonald. They fought right beside William Wallace (Braveheart) in battles against the English.