Surname Hanrahan - Meaning and Origin
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Hanrahan: What does the surname Hanrahan mean?
The last name Hanrahan is an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic Ó hAnracháin, which means "descendent of Anrachán". Anrachán was the name of an ancient King of Munster, who was a powerful chieftain in Southwest Ireland during the early Middle Ages. This surname could be found mainly in the counties of Cork and Kerry but families with the name can be found all over the island of Ireland.
The Hanrahan family in Ireland has a long and distinguished history. The first recorded ancestors of the Hanrahans were chieftains of the O'Mulrian clan located in the region of Lough Gur in County Limerick. From there, they began to move around the country and can be found in various records in Ireland dating back as far as the 1500s. The Hanrahans were known for their loyalty and bravery in battle and gained a reputation in Irish folklore as fierce warriors as well as talented poets and musicians.
Today, the name Hanrahan is most commonly found in the United States and Australia due to emigration from Ireland. It is a relatively rare surname, although it is still very much associated with the origins in the Emerald Isle. The name is still celebrated amongst the Irish diaspora and can be found in many memories, stories, and songs.
Order DNA origin analysisHanrahan: Where does the name Hanrahan come from?
The last name Hanrahan is most commonly found today in English-speaking countries. In the United States, Hanrahan is most prevalent in the northeast – specifically in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. It is also found in the Mid-Atlantic states and across the South.
In the United Kingdom, Hanrahan is most commonly found in the Republic of Ireland. It is believed to have originated with the Norman invaders of the 12th century, and Irish records suggest that the name is derived from the Germanic personal name Anrahan or Anrehan.
The name is also common in Australia and New Zealand, where it was likely brought by migrants of Irish or British descent. Hanrahan is the 17th most common last name in Australia and 20th most common in New Zealand.
The name is also found in Canada, but it is not as common as it is in other Anglophone countries. In the 2006 Census, Hanrahan was the 5,259th most common name in the country.
Finally, Hanrahan is a surname found in Tanzania. It is likely a result of Irish missionaries who traveled to the region in the 19th century to provide education and medical care.
Altogether, Hanrahan is a last name which has many origins and is found in most English-speaking countries. However, the use of this surname varies from country to country.
Variations of the surname Hanrahan
Hanrahan is an Irish surname, which is derived from the Gaelic name “O’ hAnnrachain”. It is commonly found in County Cork and other parts of Munster, with the majority of Hanrahans in Ireland to be found in Cork and Kerry. The meanings in English are “descendant of Annrachain”, or “son of formidable strength”.
The variants of the name Hanrahan include: Hanrahans, Henery, Henrighan, Hennrich, O’ Hanrahan, O’ Henery, and O’ Harry. Some spellings have also been adapted such as Hannrahan and Hannrich.
There are a few spellings of the surname used in the United States, including: Honerhan, Harahan, Harahans, Honarhan, and O’ Harahan. This is to reflect the anglicization of the name which was caused by USA conflicts with Ireland.
Other surnames which may have been derived from Hanrahan are Harika, Hanrick, Hanry, and oHaren. There is also a theory that the surname “Hidell” is a variant of Hanrahan as it is found in the same locations around Munster.
In Scotland, various spellings of the surname like Handrick and Hanerhans became popular, as well as English versions such as Henerhan and Hannigan. These variations could have been to easily differentiate the surname from the rest of the population.
Overall, the Hanrahan surname is derived from an ancient Irish Gaelic surname which has been adapted over the centuries. The many variants and spellings of the surname is reflective of the migrations and adaptations of the surname which began in Ireland.
Famous people with the name Hanrahan
- Maura Hanrahan: Professor of Ecology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Dave Hanrahan: former Major League pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and Pittsburgh Pirates
- Peter Hanrahan: Australian actor popularly known for his role in the ABC Children's TV series “Behind the News”
- Patrick Hanrahan: Professor of computer science and of electrical engineering at Stanford University
- Kevin Hanrahan: Canadian actor, popularly known for his work in “Flashpoint”
- Liam Hanrahan: Irish journalist, presenter of the news channel “UTV Ireland”
- A.K. Hanrahan: songwriter for the band Blake Shaywne
- Karen Hanrahan: Massachusetts based political consultant
- Brian Hanrahan: British journalist
- Robert Hanrahan: novelist and short story author