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Irish surname

Halloran: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó hAllmhuráin · 'descendant of Allmhurán' (stranger from beyond the sea)

Woulfe (1923) gives O'Halloran and Halloran as anglicised forms of Ó hAllmhuráin, 'descendant of Allmhurán' (stranger from beyond the sea). He names two families: a Galway family, anciently chiefs of Clann Fearghaile near the present city of Galway, and a Thomond family of the same stock as the MacNamaras, seated before 1641 in the parish of Ogonnelloe in the east of Co. Clare. In 1890 Halloran births were principally found in Clare, Galway and Cork, and O'Halloran births in Limerick.

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Coat of arms associated with the Halloran surname
Irish formÓ hAllmhuráin
Meaning'descendant of Allmhurán' (stranger from beyond the sea)
CountiesClare, Galway, Cork, Limerick
Other spellings7

Origin of the Halloran name

Woulfe names two families of Ó hAllmhuráin: (1) a Galway family, anciently chiefs of Clann Fearghaile, an extensive district near the present city of Galway; (2) a Thomond family, of the same stock as the MacNamaras, who before 1641 were seated in the parish of Ogonnelloe, east Co. Clare. 'The name is still very common in both counties.'[1]

  1. Before 1641Thomond family seated in the parish of Ogonnelloe, east Co. Clare (Woulfe).[1]
  2. 1728Surgeon and historian Silvester O'Halloran born in Limerick, 31 December.[6]
  3. 1774O'Halloran's General History of Ireland published in London.[6]
  4. 189067 birth entries including spelling varieties (65 spelled Halloran); principally Clare, Galway and Cork.[2][5]
  5. 189025 birth entries including spelling varieties (17 spelled O'Halloran); principally Limerick.[3][5]

Where in Ireland

Co. ClareThomond family at Ogonnelloe before 1641; first county named for Halloran births in 1890.[1][2]
Co. GalwayChiefs of Clann Fearghaile near Galway city; a principal Halloran county in 1890.[1][2]
Co. CorkAmong the three counties where Halloran births were principally found in 1890.[2]
Co. LimerickThe county where O'Halloran births were principally found in 1890.[3]

Notable people named Halloran

Silvester O'Halloran1728–1807Limerick surgeon and historian; one of the earliest members of the Royal Irish Academy; General History of Ireland (1774).[6]
Sir Joseph O'Hallorand. about 1843Silvester's son; served fifteen years in India and rose to Lieutenant-General (Webb).[6]

Other spellings

O'Halloran · O'Hallaran · O'Halleran · O'Halleron · Holloran · Hallaron · Halloron[1][4]

The Halloran coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Halloran surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Halloran crest gifts

Clan Halloran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap ZA46 Halloran Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Halloran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Ohalloran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapXH53 Classic Cap - Ohalloran Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Ohalloran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Halloran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapNL96 Classic Cap - Halloran Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Halloran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Ohalloran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap XG97 Ohalloran Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Ohalloran Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Halloran surname: questions

What does the surname Halloran mean?

Woulfe gives Halloran as a form of Ó hAllmhuráin, 'descendant of Allmhurán', which he glosses as 'stranger from beyond the sea'.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Halloran name from?

Woulfe names a Galway family, anciently chiefs of Clann Fearghaile near Galway city, and a Thomond family seated before 1641 at Ogonnelloe in the east of Co. Clare. In 1890 Halloran births were principally found in Clare, Galway and Cork.[1][2]

Is Halloran the same as O'Halloran?

Yes. Woulfe lists O'Halloran and Halloran as anglicised forms of Ó hAllmhuráin. Matheson counted the two spellings separately in 1890.[1][5]

Who was Silvester O'Halloran?

Webb describes him as a surgeon and historian born in Limerick on 31 December 1728, one of the earliest members of the Royal Irish Academy and author of a General History of Ireland (1774); he died in Limerick in 1807.[6]

Sources

  1. Ó hAllmhuráin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oh/o-hallmhurain.php
  2. Halloran — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/halloran.php
  3. O'Halloran — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/ohalloran.php
  4. Halloran — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/793.php
  5. Table Explanation — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/table-explanation.php
  6. Silvester O'Halloran — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/SilvesterOHalloran.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).