Susan,

Really appreciate your reply. I don't know why I never searched for alternate spellings when I already knew that the 1850 census had them down as Morn and the 1860 had them as Meraw (the last spelling definitely a transcription error). However, I can almost hear someone say Morn for Moran.

I'll re-research once more the sites including immigrant ships. City directories never occurred to me either! Geesh, terrible getting old sometimes! lol

Also, in ref to Morans, there were 2 Moran clans here about the same time. One at the Meehan settlement (my Morans) and the other i often refer to as the northside clan (actually in the Newport area near Hwy 41 and Wadsworth Road). Our 2 families eventually connected because of marriage, but more like in-laws marrying in-laws.

Thanks again for reminding me of the alternate spellings!
--Barbara