The Corcoran Family

(Crest No. 9. Plate 2.)

THE Corcoran family is descended from Milesius, King of Spain, through the line of his son Heber. The founder of the family was Kiann, son of Olliol Ollum, King of Munster, A. D. 177, and his consort, Sabia, daughter of Con of the Hundred Battles, King of Ireland, A. D. 148.

The ancient name was Carcran and signifies “Prisoner.” The possessions of the clan were located in the present County of Tipperary. The Corcorans were Chiefs of Clan Rooney “of the Flowery Avenues,” in that country.

A prominent representative of this name was General Michael Corcoran of the United States Army during the late Civil War. He was born in Ireland in 1827 and came to the United States in 1849. He came into prominent notice in 1860, by refusing to parade the Sixty-ninth Regiment of New York, of which he was colonel, in honor of the Prince of Wales, then visiting America. At the outbreak of the war, he took the field with his regiment. He fought with distinguished valor at Bull Run, where he was wounded and taken prisoner. He was exchanged the following year and raised to the rank of brigadier-general. He raised a command, known as the Irish Legion, and served with marked credit until 1863, when he was accidentally killed by falling from his horse.

The late W. W. Corcoran, of Washington, D. C., the distinguished philanthropist, was also a descendant of this family.