The name O’Hara has held a distinguished place in Ireland for centuries. The current spelling is an anglicized pronunciation of the original Irish Ó hEaghra, meaning “descended from Eaghra” (rhymes with “Tara”).
Bearers of the name are believed to be the generational offspring of 10th century Irish chief Eaghra (d. 976), who governed the areas around today’s Leyny, County Sligo. The clan was a branch of the family of Olioll Ollum, who was king of Munster.
The stalwart O’Haras divided into two separate groups around 1350, with one remaining in the Sligo/ Leitrim border region and the other migrating east to the Route, County Antrim – the two locations in Ireland where the name is still most commonly held today. The name first appeared in writing in 1585 in the Composition Book of Connacht, a directory of contemporary Irish clans and their landholdings.
More numerous and wealthy, the Sligo O’Haras managed to maintain their inherited lordship over more than 21,000 acres of territory in harmony for about 500 years, until the Cromwellian wars saw them overwhelmed and their land confiscated by the British invasion. A detailed record of the clan’s chiefs remains intact in a famous book of praise poems called the Book of O’Hara, written in a vellum manuscript in the late 16th century. It is stored today in the National Library of Ireland’s manuscript department.
Periods of mass Irish emigration eventually spread the name worldwide, particularly in America, where it is, perhaps surprisingly, at its most popular in the state of Hawaii, followed by, less surprisingly, the northeastern states. While the spelling has varied over the centuries and regions, O’Hara is one of the few names to steadfastly maintain the “O” prefix.
Over the years, O’Haras have continued to carve out their place in history with remarkable achievements. In 1706, Lieutenant General Charles O’Hara (d. 1724) was appointed the first baron of Tyrawley for his service in the British army. Irish-born James O’Hara (d. 1819) settled in Pennsylvania in 1772 and served as quartermaster general in the colonial army at Fort Lee, Virginia, from 1792 to 1796. Later, his successful business dealings made him able to purchase land on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania, an area still known today as the Township of O’Hara.
James was certainly not the only revolutionary O’Hara, however: Kean O’Hara (1768-1851) was an active participant in the failed Irish rebellion of 1798. And James O’Hara (1844-1905), of Irish and West-Indian descent, was the fifth black congressman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the sole black member of the House when he was elected in 1883. He spent his term engaging in the hard-fought battle to keep newly imposed civil rights in place and working to enact more.
In religion, Irish-born Rev. William O’Hara (1816-1899) was the first Catholic bishop to be appointed to the episcopate of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1868. He also founded St. Thomas College in 1897, now called the University of Scranton.
O’Haras have also had a significant impact on the arts over time. Kane O’Hara (1712-1782), a County Sligo librettist, wrote the comic opera Midas, which related the humorous interactions between the classical gods and mortals. It was performed publicly for the first time in Dublin in 1762.
Irish actress Maureen O’Hara (1920-2015), a member of the Irish America Hall of Fame and known for her numerous films with John Wayne and long career portraying strong, proud Irish women, was born a FitzSimons, but made O’Hara a household name by taking it to work in the film industry.
Irish Canadian Catherine O’Hara, who currently stars as Moira Rose on POP TV’s Schitt’s Creek, has built a 42-year long career as a comedic actress in both film and television.
In literature, prolific Irish American novelist John O’Hara (1905-1970) wrote such memorable, effective portrayals of his time that several were translated onto the silver screen. His stories “BUtterfield 8” and “From the Terrace” were both released as films in 1960, starring (respectively) Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman.
Irish American poet Frank O’Hara (1926-1966) was internationally renowned for the unique style of his work, incorporating a copious knowledge of art and music seamlessly into his poems, and respected for his leadership in the New York School of poets as well as his close work with New York City’s Museum of Modern Art.
And, though fictional, Scarlett O’Hara, protagonist of Margaret Mitchell’s 1939 novel Gone with the Wind, may be one of the most iconic personages to bear the surname, which speaks to Mitchell’s own Irish roots: her great-grandfather Philip Fitzgerald and grandfather John Stephens both emigrated individually from Ireland to Georgia.
Finally, there is Tony Award-winning actress Kelli O’Hara (b. 1976), a member of this year’s class of Irish America Hall of Fame inductees. ♦
Thanks for your research on the O’hara name. It was really interesting to learned some things about accomplished Irish people in Ireland, and in the states.
This was really interesting and fun to read, and now I know where my roots come from.
nice to hear about of o’hara, my father came from scranton pa.iam a native virginian born and raised in norfolf va. but i know my name has a great past.
It could be that your O’Hara lineage goes back to Castleconnor in County Sligo. You might find this interesting: https://www.lackawannapagenweb.com/history/TheIrishAreComing-SligoToScranton.html
Fantastic link! My great-great Grandparents Patrick and Veronica (McDermott) O’Hara and their large extended family lived in Northeastern P. The men mostly worked in the coal mines and the women took jobs in various textile trades— garment industry, and many were highly skilled in tailoring. Some towns I know they lived are Carbondale, Richmondale, Forest City, Montrose, and Susquehanna. I am looking forward to reading the info you posted.
I’ve always wanted to know more about my family and Scranton. My grandfather was raised there. And my great grandfather has a building named after him at the University of Scranton!
Thank you for taking the time to create this! Need to visit Hawaii soon!
‘Hope to be added to this list one day for my film studio and think tank’s respective contributions to the world.
Looking for more information on clan history, not american history of the name, any suggestions? I want to go back as far as possible, before the English ruined us, if possible.
hi carrie, in county sligo there was a castle (still ruins today), my own family were an offbreak of the clan who moved down south to rejoin with another clan after english envasion, will be moving to sligo shortly, would you like to stay in contact, would be happy to share any information can discover. Much love, vivienne o’hara.
I would love to be in contact with you. The last I was able to trace my O’Hara relative was to Boyle in Co. Roscommon
This is really cool to learn!
Thank you for the info! I’m an O’Hara, born and currently living in Northern California.
Are you related to Patrick or Charles Leonard O’Hara of Petaluma, California? I am the daughter of John Michael O’Hara, son of Dorothy. Dorothy was the Daughter of Mary Jane Lamb O’Hara and Charles Leonard O’Hara. I have much of our History
Interesting thank you. I am an O’Hara we are from County Longford originally but like many Irish people we moved to London to build roads and infrastructure. We settled in North West London in an area heavily populated by Irish immigrants. My name in gaelic – Padraig Eadhra. I would urge every O’Hara to resist the removal of the O prefix and the apostrophe from their name. The internet and the modern world generally does not cope well with this cultural oddity.
I absolutely love learning about my ancestry and collective and cultural history. I feel honored to bear a name of such long history and achievement. I’ve been reading the verse in the Book of O’Hara, recently, and I highly recommend it. It’s an An Duanaire, or poetry book, and it contains dozens of poems about Cormac Ó hÉaghra from the 1500s and other legends of the O’Hara family.
I’m an English O’Hara and I’m very interested in reading the Book of O’Hara, now I know of it’s existence. How would I go about this?
My husband doesn’t understand the importance of belonging to a clan and being related to every blood O’Hara. Mind you he hates his Smith surname! He isn’t even a proper Smith as his paternal Grandad was adopted so he might have Irish roots too! All my paternal family originated from Ireland – 1844 to about 1910.
Centuries of O’Hara’s and just ran into this site – found many truths and this is the importance – Book of O’Hara – Rare – My Uncle Barnie & I served and if any interest on the why’s O’Hara vs O’Hare: look up: LTC Bernard O’Hare- obituary – An Officer & a Gentleman: our History before Irelands breaking off – these two (2) Irish FAMILIES – Legends: Catholic vs Protestant’s = O’Hara’s & O’Hare! Here is where changes created History, Legends & Families! This Old Irish woman is the last and as I hire this carpenter to create my Final Resting place to tell my Irish Legacy I pray that our youths continue our Amazing Legacy…Remember what this phase truly means: “LUAS DIA” – OUR JOURNEY – NOT OUR DEATH – ..”God Speed” my lil Darling O’Hara’s!
Very interestingl site learn alot. Still trying to find when we came over from Irland. Had to be early to mid 1700s , last found in pa.
Reading this from Hawaii! Just moved here, but I had no idea. Also, it’s fun when people point out they see my name in movie credits 🙂
congrats!
im an irish born and raise ohara amazing to learn how weve moved to all corners of the earth,
wish you well with your new home much love, vivienne ohara (cork, ireland).
Hello what does it means by O’Hara in the making?
I love my name.Clair O’Hara. My great grandfather disappeared early after my grandfather was born. *Jerk. But my love for my last name is beyond. I went to Trinity College…they said Sligo is where most of the clan came from. I went there. Walked the streets, wondering if any of the people I walked by were distant relatives. One can dream of a past they don’t have any information on:(
I’m a Scottish born O’Hara – protestant.
Great great grandfather was Irish no sure if they started off catholic !
Interesting read. It is nice to know some family history.
The mass Irish immigration has led to plenty of people with the O’Hara surname pop up in different parts of the world and I’m no exception.
I’m from Malaysia and I know people will be surprised that there are O’Haras that are Asian but one part of the family split up and migrated to Sri Lanka at first when the British took over India, then soon they migrated to South East Asia.
And that’s where my family tree was born here.
Hi from Masterton in New Zealand. I’ve been itching to get to Ireland now I can afford to travel and unfortunately blood covid has got in the way….Terence O’Hara
I’m an O’Harra with 2 r’s. My great great uncle was Miles F O’Harra the first soldier killed in Custers Last stand. First O’Harras came over from Ireland in 1760 settled in Virginia then migrated to Ohio. Love Ireland and the people. Michael Allen O’Harra
My family arrived from Ireland in the early 1700s and settled in KY. From there they moved through VA, WV, and through the midwest to IN & IL. I have to wonder if we are related. Our family name through time = O’Hara/O’Harra/Harrah.
My name is Dan O’Hara IV. Direst descendent of the the Sligo bloodline. We are the oldest family owned and ran mortuary west side of the Mississippi. Cheers to all.
My fifth great grand father John O’Hara or possibly O’Harra has been declared by Family Search to have been born in Trabazon Turkey in or about the year 1708. My DNA does not shoe any thing but Irish, Scottish, English and German sources and so if it is true that he was born there, then his Irish mother must have been with his father there. This could have been because his father was in the English military as an officer in which case his wife could have accompanied him or since Trabazon is one of the first seaports at the European end of the caravan spice routes, he might have been a merchant who lived or traveled there. I really want to find out why my line of the family left Ireland. I also believe that the O’Hara’s changed from Catholic to Church of Ireland shortly before 1700 in order to keep their lands, however, our family has been solidly Catholic since leaving Ireland. I so want to meet my relatives and hear any and all stories from that time and since then.
Mark
Hello fellow O’Haras ???????? I’ve always been so interested in my family name and Irish ancestry.. I research a lot and I’m about to start an ancestry.com profile to dig deeper.
While our name is a most ancient of Irish name’s and found widely throughout the world (I am in Australia), unfortunately much of the history of O”Hara lineage was destroyed in a Church fire in Ireland as all the early birth’s, death’s and marriage’s were conducted and recorded in local parishes. Very proud of my name and ancient lineage
My Great Grandmother was Amelia O’Hara, born in England and died in New Zealand. Her father William had similar birth and death places.
I have a question about a name I’ve just run across while working on my Fairweather One-Name Study.
It’s a family in Scotland who are called A’Hara.
Scotland’s People Births between 1855
You searched for – Surname: “a’Hara”, Surname options: “Exact names only”, County/city/minor records: “ALL”
67 results
Death Record: FAIRWEATHER MATILDA A’HARA 78 A’HARA F 1994 675 / 71 PRESTWICK
FAIRWEATHER MATILDA A’HARA 78 A’HARA F 1994 675 / 71 PRESTWICK
I wonder what its origin is? Just a mistaken spelling of O”Hara?
I’m from Birkenhead England my name was changed to Jones as a child but my original name ohara because of my mum and nan both o hara just intrigued that my my nan came to Merseyside aĺ those years ago and my family tree
Quite a few O’Hara’s around the Merseyside region. Myself from Birkenhead!
This was a great read for me as I didn’t know there were so many O’Hara’s around the world
hi roddy, currently researching to find out, will i send you any information i discover, kind regards, vivienne ohara.
My father, Martin A. O’Hara one of 12 children born in Wilkes Barre, Pa. married Alice Boyle of Newport, R.I. daughter of Mayor Patrick Boyle…also, cousin of Arch Bishop Gerald Michael O’Hara of Philadelphia, Pa.
This was interesting to read.
Tara O Hara
Daughter of Donal O Hara, granddaughter of Michael O Hara(from monalea ) great granddaughter of black paddy.love reading the history.
Hi I am a student in Australia I just wanted to say how happy to be part of the O’Hara
I am 10 years old and I just want to say thank you for making me a O’Hara
Jayne Holden. Granddaughter to Great great grandmother O’HARA & long list of the name goes way back.WE are here in England ….Great read upon the Irish history .fascinating. Proud.! …My partner is too an Irish lad originates from cork .Cronin.
Thank you very much for the history .
I love seeing all these O’Hara’s . My father and his siblings were born in Scranton , Pa. His name was Robert C Ohara and my grandfather was Joseph J Ohora. They had their name change to Ohora when they came to the states well before 1900’s but my father changed the name back to Ohara. I was born in De but now lives in Vermont!
Sitting on the dock of the bay. Hello, my name is Jesse O’Hara. I am 39 years old, I am a writer and musician. I am 4th generation Irish in Canada. My grandad Tom O’Hara fought WW2 and his son Clarence O’Hara, my dad worked 35 years as a carpenter and train mechanic. We are all born in Montréal Québec. Beautifiul place. I long to visit IRELAND. I’m very happy to have read about our family roots.
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From this day forward.
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