Contents [hide]

Mara History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Mara History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The name Mara has undergone many variations in the time that has passed since its genesis. In Gaelic it appeared as Ó Meadhra, which is derived from the word meadhar, which means merry. 1

Early Origins of the Mara family

The surname Mara was first found in County Tipperary (Irish: Thiobraid Árann), established in the 13th century in South-central Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

"The O'Mearas had an extensive territory in the Barony of Upper Ormond, County Tipperary, in which O'Meara was a Chief. The name of their principal residence, Tuam-ui-Meara, is still retained in the town of Toomyvara. The Mearas or O'Mearas are still numerous in that locality." 2

Early History of the Mara family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mara research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1614, 1619, 1681 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Mara History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mara Spelling Variations

Irish names recorded during the Middle Ages are characterized by many spelling variations. This preponderance of variations for common names can be explained by the fact that the scribes and church officials that kept records during that period individually decided how to capture one's name. These recorders primarily based their decisions on how the name was pronounced or what it meant. Research into the name Mara revealed many variations, including Meara, O'Mara, Mar, O'Meara and others.

Early Notables of the Mara family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was Dermod O'Meara, an Irish physician and poet, author of the first medical work printed in Dublin in 1619; Edmund...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mara Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mara Ranking

In the United States, the name Mara is the 12,008^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Mara migration to the United States +

A great wave of Irish migration occurred during the 19th century as a direct result of English colonial rule and tight-fisted absentee landlords. Many of these Irish immigrants boarded passenger ships bound for North America. Those who migrated early enough were given land in either British North America or the United States; those who came in the late 19th century were typically employed in industrial centers as laborers. At whatever age they undertook the dangerous passage to North America, those Irish immigrants were essential to the speedy development of the two infant nations to which they arrived, whether they broke and settled land, helped build canals, bridges, and railroads, or produced products for consumer consumption. An examination of immigration and passenger lists has uncovered a large number of immigrants bearing the name Mara or one of its variants:

Mara Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hannah Mara, who landed in Virginia in 1702 4
Francis Mara, who settled in Virginia in 1774

Mara Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Mara, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 4
John Mara, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
Daniel, Joanna, William Mara, who settled in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870
Patrick Mara, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1872 4
Jose Mara, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1883 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mara Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

William Mara, who arrived in Arkansas in 1901 4

Mara migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mara Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Michael Mara, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1803
Edmund Mara, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1812
Thomas Mara, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1813
Thomas Mara, aged 5, who landed in Canada in 1823
Bridget Mara, aged 6, who landed in Canada in 1823
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mara migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Mara Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

J. Mara, a cabinet-maker, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Michael Mara, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eden" in 1838 5
Elizabeth Mara, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eden" in 1838 5
Catherine Mara, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eden" in 1838 5
John Mara, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Eden" in 1838 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mara migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Mara Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Patrick Mara, aged 35, a herdsman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dorette" in 1874 6
Mr. Patrick Mara, (b. 1839), aged 35, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Dorette" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th April 1874 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Mara (post 1700) +

Mary Mara (1960-2022), American television and film actress from Syracuse, New York, known for her main role as Inspector Bryn Carson on Nash Bridges, she died from drowning
Patrick Mara, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from District of Columbia, 2008 8
Metaline Mara, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1928 8
Joseph A. Mara, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Floral Park, New York, 1947 8
John Mara, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Indiana, 1972 8
Patrick James "P. J." Mara (1942-2016), Irish public affairs consultant and former senator, Member of the 16th Seanad Éireann (1982-1983) and Member of the 14th Seanad Éireann (1977-1981)
Ratu Alifereti Finau Mara (1960-2020), Fijian lawyer, politician, and diplomat, eldest son of former Prime Minister and President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
Margaret Mara Helmuth (b. 1957), American composer
Mara Abrantes (1934-2021), Brazilian-Portuguese singer and actress known for the films A Canção da Saudade and Malandros em Quarta Dimensão
Mara Marini, Canadian actress, best known for her reoccurring role as Brandi Maxxxx in the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation.

The Mara Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Opima spolia
Motto Translation: The spoils of honour.

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
Matheson, Robert E., Special Report on Surnames in Ireland with Notes as to Numeric Strength, Derivation, Ethnology, and Distribution. Dublin: Alexander Thom & Co., 1894. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) EDEN 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Eden.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html