Back in 1878, Marancy Hughes of Tuscarora, Nevada, married a man named Samuel M. Pollard.
She soon discovered that Samuel was not a man, but woman. Named Sarah.
I don’t know anything else about the situation, but I was amused by what an anonymous reporter in Baltimore had to say about Marancy’s name:
To begin with, her Christian name is Marancy, which of itself is an overwhelming affliction.
Do you agree or disagree?
Source: “What Came of an Elopement.” Morning Herald [Baltimore] 24 May 1878: 1.
I don’t especially like Marancy but neither would I feel sorry for someone with that name. I’m just going by sound, I have no associations for its (possible) meaning nor for other Marancys. Maybe at that time in that area, it would be considered unfavourable to have a rare name, no matter its asthetics or associations. Not so much these days.
It sounds like a mashup of Mary and Nancy. I could see people honouring two relatives that way.
That was my impression as well — sounds like a mashup.