The Cryan/Crean/Crehan Surnames Project It is our goal to try and find out how, or if, the Cryans, Creans, and Crehans are connected. Origins and Meaning We can see from the earliest transliterations of Ó Croidheáin (O'Craidhen, O'Craian, Crean) and their connections with tombs depicting a coat of arms with three hearts that Croidhe (or 'croí' in new spelling) referred to the Gaelic for heart. The second part of Croidheáin, 'áin' most likely refers to 'án' which means 'noble', 'pure', 'pleasant', 'elegant' as in 'an t-aos án': the fairies (literally the pure/noble people/folk) (see Dineen's Irish-English Dictionary). This is backed up by the Crean family motto: 'Cor mundum crea in me Deus' (Psalm 51:10) which means: 'God, create a pure heart in me'. The modern spelling of Croidheáin, 'croíán' is still used today in Gaelic for a 'gallant' or a 'suitor' (pure heart)(see Ó Dónaill's Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla). It is believed that Cryan is a Roscommon version of Crean while Crehan is the Galway/Clare version. There are many variants of the Ó Croidheáin surname: Croidheáin, Craigen/Creighan, Crawn/Craun, Crane, Crean, Craen, Creen-e, Cre(a)g(h)an, Cre(a)han, Cro(u)ghan, Crain-e, MacCroghan/McCrohan, Crowen, Cryan-s, Crion, Creyon, Krine, Crine, Cryne, Crehen, Craheen. Early History The Creans were a minor sept of the Cenél nEógain in Donegal. A branch settled in Carbury in the north of County Sligo in the late 15th century and by the 17th century they were an important, wealthy family. The Creans were merchants and landowners who held many important positions such as County Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, Dominican Priors, and Bishop of Elphin. They were mentioned in the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland (Irish: Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the Annals of the Four Masters (Annála na gCeithre Máistrí, 1632 - 1636) twice: M1506.9: Donnell (Domnall) O'Craidhen (O'Crean), a pious and conscientious merchant, died, while hearing mass in Donegal Abbey (1506), and M1572.6: Henry O'Craidhen, a rich and affluent merchant of Lower Connaught, died (1572). Cormacas O Craian is buried in the altar tomb which stands in the nave of Sligo Abbey, which bears a Latin inscription, "Hic . jacet . Cormacus. Ocraian . Et Ehon ac . Nanangasa . uxor. Eis . an . Do., MCCCCC VI." (Here lieth Cormac O'Craian and Nanangasa, his wife, The year of the Lord, 1506). The tomb has the Ó Croidheáin coat of arms. There is also the Crean - Mc Dermot Crucifixion Plaque (1668), Ardcarne Cemetery, Co Roscommon, showing the Crean coat of arms. Research There are over 40 different spellings of the Cryan/Crean/Crehan surnames (which are the main phonetical variations). The Cryan/Crean/Crehan Surnames Project is using Y-DNA to discover the genetic similarities and differences behind the surname variations. Y-DNA is a specialized test that looks only at the male inherited Y chromosome in men, which enables us to connect individuals who descend from a specific man during the surname era. There are Cryan/Crean/Crehan families all over the world now and the purpose of this Surnames Project is to learn about the origins of the name variations and rediscover lost connections between families.