Surname O'Hanlon - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
O'Hanlon: What does the surname O'Hanlon mean?
The surname O'Hanlon is an Irish surname derived from the ancient Gaelic clan name Ó hAnluain. According to ancient Irish legends and historic records, the Ó hAnluain clan was one of the “Seven Septs of Oriel”, a powerful feudal region in parts of Ulster and Monaghan. The name is derived from the Irish personal name ‘Anluan’, which means ‘a leader’. This suggests that the Ó hAnluain clan were either political or military leaders of some influence; something which the surname O’Hanlon has come to represent.
The O'Hanlon name is still common in modern Ireland and around the world with those of Irish heritage. In the Republic of Ireland, it is associated with counties Monaghan and Armagh, while those of the same name in Northern Ireland will likely be found in counties Cavan, Louth, and Down.
Today, the O’Hanlon name is popular throughout Ireland and across much of the Anglophone world. It is seen as a proud Irish surname, an honorable symbol of the great O’Hanlon family and their patriotic history. Though the precise meanings of the name may vary from one branch of the O’Hanlon family to the next, the idea and spirit of it remain strong.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Hanlon: Where does the name O'Hanlon come from?
The last name O'Hanlon is most commonly found in Ireland and Northern Ireland today. According to the Irish Times Census of 2016, it is the fourth most common name in both of these countries.
In Ireland, O'Hanlon is most abundant in Counties Tyrone, Armagh, Monaghan and Louth. It is also fairly common in all of the other Ulster counties as well as in Meath, Dublin and Leinster.
In Northern Ireland, the most common area for O'Hanlons is found in Counties Tyrone, Derry, Armagh and Antrim. However, there are also a fair number of individuals with the last name found in Belfast, North Down and Down as well as other parts of Northern Ireland.
In the United States, O'Hanlon is an uncommon name and is primarily found in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and other states that have a large Irish American population. The UK also has its own sizable population of Irish immigrants and their descendants, meaning that the last name O’Hanlon could be found there as well.
O’Hanlon is a recognizable Irish name, and it is likely that anyone who encounters it will recognize its roots. Those who bear the name today can be sure to connect with a rich and proud history that will continue to be shared and passed down through the generations.
Variations of the surname O'Hanlon
The O'Hanlon surname has a number of variants and spellings of the same origin. Its variants include O’Hanlen, O’Hatlen, O’Halon, O’Hanlan, and O'Hanlin. These all stem from the Irish Gaelic name O'hAonghuileain, which means descendant from Aonghuilean, an old personal name meaning “noble, chivalrous”.
O'Hanlan is also sometimes written as Hanlon, Hanlan, and Handlan. The Gaelic version of this name, O’hAnluain, translates to descendant of Anluan. Anluan was a personal name of uncertain meaning, but some believe it means “proud and enthusiastic”. This surname is often found in County Armagh in Northern Ireland.
O'Hanlen and O'Hatlen are variations of O'Hanlon and both have very similar meanings. O'Hanlen is derived from the O'Haghtnaigh sept and so it's meaning in Irish translates to "descendant of the grumpy one". O'Hatlen is slightly different as it means "descendant of the noble one". This version is found mostly in County Tipperary.
Other related surnames include Hanlen, Hanlenne, Hanley, Hanlin, Hannan, and Hannigan. These spellings are usually derived from resources such as church records and the Griffith’s Valuation, which was a detailed survey of landholdings and tenants in Ireland in the late 19th century.
Many of these variants are still popular today and can be found in England, Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and beyond.
Famous people with the name O'Hanlon
- Dulcie O’Hanlon: British theatre and film actress, best known for her roles in The Devils and The Rotters’ Club.
- Una O’Hanlon: British badminton player and two-time Commonwealth Games medalist.
- Martin O’Hanlon: Head of Education and Outreach for the Raspberry Pi Foundation and children's author.
- Paddy O’Hanlon: Northern Irish politician and former Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council.
- Seamus O’Hanlon: Gaelic footballer from Cavan, Ireland best known for his senior career with the Cavan GAA team.
- Patricia O’Hanlon: Director of Shaping Outcomes, a behavior change agency in Belfast.
- Chaim O’Hanlon: Canadian band leader and singer.
- Máire O'Hanlon: Irish international footballer who plays as a forward for Cork City and Ireland.
- Frank O’Hanlon: Irish former professional footballer who played as a left winger for Huddersfield Town.
- Stephen O’Hanlon: Irish politician who served as a Senator from 1981 to 1982.