Surname O'Horan - Meaning and Origin
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O'Horan: What does the surname O'Horan mean?
The last name O'Horan is an anglicised version of the Gaelic surname Ó hAthchomhair, meaning “descendant of Athchomhar”. The name Athchomhar was taken from the Gaelic word for “help” and was commonly used to describe someone who was respected and dependable. It can also be interpreted to mean “resourceful” or “energetic”.
The O'Horan surname is one of the most common last names throughout Ireland, and particularly in the Connacht and Munster provinces. Today, it is still a very common surname in Ireland and can be found scattered throughout the Irish diaspora in other parts of the world. Although the vast majority are of Irish ancestry, it is impossible to determine exactly how many people carry the O'Horan surname today.
The O'Horan surname is a reflection of Ireland's fascinating history and the proud resilience of its people. Throughout the centuries, many O'Horan families have made a lasting impact on Irish society and culture, and this legacy lives on today. From political figures to renowned poets, the surname encompasses a variety of talents and contributions to Irish and international society.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Horan: Where does the name O'Horan come from?
The last name O’Horan is most commonly found in Ireland, as the family likely originated there when it was an independent kingdom. The O’Horan’s likely descend from the O’Hanrahans of Limerick, a line of chiefs going back as far as the 10th century. Ireland, both north and south, is still home to numerous people with the O’Horan last name today.
In addition to its Irish roots, the last name O’Horan has also spread to many other countries. In the united states for example, the last name is relatively popular in states along the East Coast, like New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Maryland. There are also a fair number of O’Horans scattered throughout the Midwest. Besides the US, the last name O’Horan is somewhat common in England and Canada, as well as the other countries of the British Isles.
Given the Irish origins of the O’Horan family, the last name has a strong presence in Australia and New Zealand, as many Irish immigrants made their way there in the 19th century and beyond. The last name is also somewhat prevalent in parts of Latin America, though the numbers may be diminishing as assimilation continues.
It is hard to say how many O’Horans exist in the world population today, but it is safe to assume that the numbers are in the millions. The O’Horan last name is still strongly associated with its Irish origins, and serves as a reminder of the proud history and Celtic heritage that are often associated with the name.
Variations of the surname O'Horan
The surname O'Horan is an anglicised form of the Irish Ó hÓráin. It also has variants and spellings such as O'Horn, O'Horne, O'Hearn, O'Hern and O’Hearan. The name was originally sourced from an ancient O'Horna Sept located in Leinster which is part of Ireland today.
Originally a personal name, O'Horan derived from a broad ancient Gaelic word oráin meaning 'seal' or 'hillary'. This root is believed to be of Pictish origin due to a branch of the O’Hornas Sept being found located in Pictland during the 9th century.
The name has several variants, including Oran and Orin which is quite common in the US. Other variants such as O'Horen, O'Hourn, O'Horin, O'Hornon and O'Hornen have appeared elsewhere, most notably in the United States. Other spellings and surnames such as Horan, Hernan, Hearne, Horne, Horn, Hearn, Heron and Herrin relate back to the O’Hornas and are thus the same origin.
The O'Horan surname is found most prominently in Ireland and the United States due to a large number of O'Horan families immigrating to America from Ireland in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The name is common throughout all counties in Ireland, particularly Connacht, County Galway and County Mayo. Additionally, the name appears frequently in the Scottish Borders, mainly in the towns of Lanark and Dumfries.
Famous people with the name O'Horan
- Niall O'Horan: Former member of the boy band One Direction
- Sinead O'Horan: Irish television presenter
- Derek O'Horan: Irish entertainment manager
- Riona O'Horan: Irish soap actress
- Aoife O'Horan: Former Irish model
- Mick O'Horan: Irish footballer
- Eoin O'Horan: Irish footballer
- Colin O'Horan: Irish television presenter
- Dympna O'Horan: Irish-American author
- Maeve O'Horan: Irish actress
- John O'Horan: Irish rugby league player
- Teofilo O'Horan: Irish writer
- Jerry O'Horan: Irish actor
- Doireann O'Horan: Irish theatre and television director
- Maeve O'Horan: Irish actress
- Deirdre O'Horan: Irish actress
- John Stephen O'Horan: Irish actor
- Joe O'Horan: Irish footballer
- Orla O'Horan: Irish musical artist
- Alan O'Horan: Irish television director and producer