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Irish surname

O'Hara: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó hEaghra · 'descendant of Eaghra'

O'Hara is an anglicised form of Ó hEaghra, 'descendant of Eaghra'. Woulfe (1923) says the O'Haras take their name from Eaghra, lord of Luighne, who died in 926, and were for many centuries lords of Luighne, now the barony of Leyney in Co. Sligo. A branch settled early in the Route, Co. Antrim.

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Coat of arms associated with the O'Hara surname
Irish formÓ hEaghra
Meaning'descendant of Eaghra'
CountiesSligo, Antrim, Dublin
Other spellings3

Origin of the O'Hara name

Woulfe: of the same stock as the O'Garas; named from Eaghra, lord of Luighne (d. 926); for many centuries lords of Luighne, now the barony of Leyney, Co. Sligo. From the 14th century two branches, Ó hEaghra Buidhe and Ó hEaghra Riabhach. A branch settled early in the Route, Co. Antrim.[1]

  1. 926Death of Eaghra, lord of Luighne, from whom the O'Haras take their name.[1]
  2. 14th centuryFamily divides into Ó hEaghra Buidhe and Ó hEaghra Riabhach branches.[1]
  3. Cromwellian periodThe O'Haras of Leyney are all dispossessed, except one family.[1]
  4. 1707Sir Charles O'Hara commands the allied left wing at Almanza.[3]
  5. 1782Death of Kane O'Hara, author of the burletta 'Midas', 17 June.[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. SligoLords of Luighne, now the barony of Leyney; a principal county for O'Hara births in 1890.[1][2]
Co. AntrimA branch settled early in the Route, where they 'rose to importance'; principal county in 1890.[1][2]
Co. DublinA principal county for O'Hara birth entries in 1890.[2]

Notable people named O'Hara

Sir Charles O'Hara, Baron Tirawley1640–1724Mayo-born officer; commanded the allied left wing at Almanza (1707); for a time Commander-in-chief in Ireland.[3]
Kane O'Harad. 1782Musician prominent in Dublin; author of burlettas including 'Midas'; Vice-President of the Musical Academy founded 1758.[4]

Other spellings

O'Harra · Hara · Ó hEadhra[1]

The O'Hara coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the O'Hara 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.

O'Hara crest gifts

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O'Hara surname: questions

What does the surname O'Hara mean?

Woulfe gives O'Hara as an anglicised form of Ó hEaghra (also written Ó hEadhra), 'descendant of Eaghra'. Eaghra was a lord of Luighne who died in 926.[1]

Where are the O'Haras from in Ireland?

Co. Sligo. Woulfe says they were for many centuries lords of Luighne, now the barony of Leyney. A branch settled early in the Route, Co. Antrim.[1]

Are O'Hara and O'Gara related?

Woulfe says the O'Haras are of the same stock as the O'Garas (Ó Gadhra).[1]

What were the yellow O'Hara and the speckled O'Hara?

Woulfe says that from the 14th century the family had two branches, headed by Ó hEaghra Buidhe and Ó hEaghra Riabhach, 'the yellow O'Hara and the speckled or brindled O'Hara'.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó hEaghra — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oh/o-heaghra.php
  2. O'Hara — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/ohara.php
  3. O'Hara, Sir Charles — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/SirCharlesOHara.php
  4. O'Hara, Kane — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/KaneOHara.php

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