Surname de Paor - Meaning and Origin

de Paor: What does the surname de Paor mean?

The last name de Paor is of Irish origin and is a variant of the name "Power," derived from the Gaelic name "de Paor." "Paor" is an old Irish word meaning "the poor one." Hence, de Paor could translate to "of the poor." As with many surnames, its origins likely related to a nickname, or to describe a person or family's status during the time when surnames first began to be used. Over time, spelling changed and variations arose due to migrations and anglicization, leading to other variations such as Powers. Today, people with the name de Paor can be found mainly in Ireland, but also throughout the world due to the Irish diaspora. Despite the humble meaning of the name, those with the surname de Paor have made many significant contributions to various fields over the centuries.

de Paor: Where does the name de Paor come from?

The last name de Paor is most common today in Ireland, particularly in the counties of Clare, Kerry, and Cork. It is a traditional Irish surname derived from Gaelic, and is believed to have been in use by the de Paor family in Ireland since the Middle Ages.

The de Paor family has a long history in Ireland dating back to the medieval period and is believed to have strong ties to the old Irish family, known as the Uí Fáeláin. In past generations, the de Paor family was a powerful and influential clan that had strongholds all over Ireland.

Today, many members of the de Paor family still live in Ireland, with a large concentration in the west of the country around the counties of Clare, Kerry, and Cork. As a relatively uncommon last name, most de Paor family members are spread out across the country rather than in one particular region.

The de Paor family has a strong and diverse history in Ireland. The family has been a part of the social, cultural, and political fabric of the country for centuries, and this continues to the present day.

Variations of the surname de Paor

The surname de Paor is an Irish and French surname with a variety of spellings and variants. In Ireland, the most common spellings are de Paor and de Paor. It also appears as McCarthy de Paor, located in mostly Kildare and Cork county. Variants of the surname include Dapaor, De Paour, Pæur, and Powar. In France, de Paor is usually spelled as Depaor.

In Ireland, the surname originates from the ancient kingdom of Ui Fiachrach Aidhne, located in County Galway and was associated with the Gaelic clan name Mac Uidhir. The name was anglicized as de Paor or de Paor. The city of Athenry is known to have been a stronghold of the Mac Uidhir and de Paor family.

In France, de Paor is usually found in the areas of Normandy and Brittany and is of French origin. The name is derived from the Old French word 'paure', which means poor, and is likely originally derived from the Latin 'pauper'.

The variants of the surname include Dapaor, De Paour, Pæur, and Powar. In Ireland, Powar is often a spelling of de Paor or a phonetic variant of the family name. Dapaor is an anglicised version of the Irish name and De Paour is a version found mostly in France. Pæur is an anglicised variant of the French name.

Famous people with the name de Paor

• David de Paor: Irish composer and lecturer who authored several books of music and composed incidental music for Dublin stage productions.
• Dave de Paor: Irish author, educator and columnist, known for his books on education and 2007-2011 stints as editor of an online Irish education journal.
• Eamon de Paor: Irish author and former footballer who wrote biographies of significant Irish personalities.
• Mary de Paor: Irish professor, writer and poet, and author of three novels that dealt closely with Irish culture and religious aspects. 5 Thomas de Paor: Irish journalist and broadcaster, primarily known for his writings in several newspapers and magazines, and his coverage of the Irish civil rights movement in 1965.
• Eugene de Paor: Irish playwright and theatre director, whose works explored contemporary issues from an Irish perspective.
• Ann de Paor: Irish broadcaster, author and actor, known for her work in radio and television throughout Ireland and for her roles in productions such as “What Souls are For” and “Kronika.”
• Maire de Paor: Irish lecturer and film director, creator of the award-winning 2002 documentary “One True Note.”
• Diarmuid de Paor: Irish politician, leader of the Sinn Féin party between 2000 and 2003, and later Minister for Education and Science within the Irish government.
• Sean de Paor: Irish historian and author, whose research focused on early modern Irish history and folklore.

Other surnames