Ohara

Meaning and origin

The last name O'Hara has its origins in Ireland, specifically in the Gaelic language.

The longer story

The last name Ohara is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name Ó hEaghra, which means "descendant of Eaghra." The name Eaghra is believed to have been derived from the Old Irish word eachra, meaning "horse rider" or "horseman."

As an Irish surname, Ohara is particularly common in County Tyrone and County Down in Northern Ireland, as well as County Mayo and County Sligo in the Republic of Ireland. The name has also had a significant presence in Scotland, where it was brought by Irish settlers.

Ohara is a patronymic surname, indicating that it was originally used to distinguish individuals by the name of their father or an ancestor. In this case, the prefix "Ó" denotes "descendant of." The specific ancestor from whom the surname Ohara was derived is uncertain, as patronymic names typically refer to a distant male ancestor rather than a specific individual.

Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.