Surname O'Moor - Meaning and Origin

O'Moor: What does the surname O'Moor mean?

The last name O'Moor is an Irish surname, with ties to the Surname O'More which is derived from the Gaelic 'O' Mórrheir' or 'Mor' - meaning “great” or “large”. This name is thought to originate from families who were landowners in medieval Ireland, holding a vast range of estates, tracts of land, and even castles. While the exact number of families bearing the O'Moor or O'More surnames are unknown, the story of this name is a long and colorful one.

Historic facts suggest that the O'Moor families were originally from the kingdom of East Meath, where their estates lie. The borders of East Meath were long held by the ancient Gaelic family, the O'Moore's, headed by the chief who held vast landholdings in counties including Laois and King's County, as well as parts of Kilkenny, Wexford, and Carlow. It is believed the family is the oldest and most powerful of the line of the O'Moors, continuously occupying the same land over the generations.

The O'Moor name is said to have been adopted late in the 17th century, upon the death of the last O'More chief. Although the majority of the family stayed in East Meath, some ventured further, living in Dublin and other adjoining counties.

Today, numerous descendants of the O'Moor families still live in Ireland and abroad, preserving their ancestral pride and their unique O'Moor heritage. While much of the history of the name is lost, it is still visible in old churches, estates, and monuments throughout the country, testament to the long lineage of the O'Moor family tree.

O'Moor: Where does the name O'Moor come from?

The last name O'Moor is most commonly found in parts of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It is an old Irish surname which has been in Ireland since ancient times. In recent years, the name has become more dispersed throughout the English-speaking world due to emigration.

In Ireland, the surname O'Moor is most concentrated in counties Cork, Waterford, and Dublin. There is also a large concentration of O'Moor in counties Galway, Kilkenny, Mayo, and Tipperary. The Irish surname is also commonly found in Northern Ireland, especially in counties Antrim, Londonderry, and Down.

In the United Kingdom, the O'Moor surname is most commonly found in the region of Lincolnshire and in the greater London area.

In Canada, the surname is most often seen in the province of Ontario, although it can also be found in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and the Atlantic provinces. In the United States, the largest population of individuals with the O'Moor surname is found in California.

Regardless of location, those with the surname O'Moor can trace their surname to Irish roots. The origin of the surname is thought to have come from an old Irish tribal name of 'O'Mordha' which roughly translates to 'descendant of Moorda'. The name is believed to have been derived from the old Gaelic name 'O'Muireadhaigh', which translates to 'descendant of Muireadhach'.

Variations of the surname O'Moor

The surname O'Moor has many variants, spellings, and associated surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant and spelling of the name O'Moor is O'Moore. Other variants include O'More, O'Maur, Moor, and Moore. Additionally, some variants may have spelling variations such as MacMoor, MacMoore, and MacMaur.

O'Moor is an Irish name, traditionally associated with the MacMauren clan that was prominent in the Connacht region. The MacMauren surname began to emerge as the O'Mauren family gained prestige in the 12th century. Over time, the name evolved and became O'Moor.

In Scotland, O'Moor may have been established as a separate family descended from the Scottish-Irish settlers of the Plantation of Ulster. This family likely originated owing to intermarriage between Irish and Scottish colonists and the adoption of Scottish surnames.

The O'Moore family of Munster, Ireland is unrelated to the O'Moore family in Connacht, as the names had different origins. The O'Moore family of Munster originates from the O'Mordha clan, who were lords of Ikerrin, near Killaloe in County Tipperary. The O'Mordha name became anglicized to O'Moore over time.

The O'Moor surname is also sometimes confused with the surname Moore, which can be of either Irish or English origin. The Irish Moore surname originated from several distinct clans, including the O'Muiredhaigh and O'More families in Connacht, or the O'Mordha family of Munster. The English Moore name came of Norman origin, from the name More.

In sum, the surname O'Moor has many variants, spellings, and associated surnames, including O'Moore, O'More, O'Maur, Moor, MacMoor, MacMoore, MacMaur, O'Muiredhaigh, and O'Mordha. Additionally, the surname can be confused with the English Moore surname, which originated from the Norman name More.

Famous people with the name O'Moor

• Ryan O’Moor, Irish Professional MMA Fighter
• Dan O’Moor, American Actor
• Joe O’Moor, English Footballer
• Kevin O’Moor, Irish Singer
• Derek O’Moor, Jamaican Reggae Artist
• Owen O’Moor, Irish Snooker Player
• Niall O’Moor, Irish Rugby Union Player
• Fergus O’Moor, Irish Actor
• Marcus O’Moor, Irish Singer
• David O’Moor, Irish Professional Wrestler
• Sévin O’Moor, French Singer
• Lorna O’Moor, Irish Dancer
• Conor O’Moor, Irish Footballer
• John O’Moor, American Film Editor
• Walter O’Moor, American Graphic Designer

Other surnames

O'MooneyO'Moore