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O'Flaherty History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

O'Flaherty Surname History

Origins Available:
Ireland

The Irish surnames in use today are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name O'Flaherty originally appeared in Gaelic as "O Flaithbheartaigh," which means "bright ruler."

Early Origins of the O'Flaherty family

The surname O'Flaherty was first found in Connemara (Irish : Conamara), which derives from Conmhaicne Mara (meaning: descendants of Con Mhac, of the sea)), County Galway in Connacht where the name claims descent from Flaithbertaigh Ua Flaithbertaigh, King of Connacht, who died 1098. Flaithbertaigh was the first bearer of the surname O'Flaherty, and was Lord of Maigh Seola in what is now County Galway. 1

"The O'Flahertys were originally located in the Barony of Clare, County Galway, but in the thirteenth century, having been expelled from this territory, they settled in the Barony of Moycullen, and were styled Lords of lar Conacht or West Connaught. A large number of the Flahertys are now to be found in the Baronies of Moycullen, Ross, and Ballinahinch, in County Galway." 2

Another source gives this background about the family: "This family, whose tribe name was Muintir Murchadha, traced their descent from Flaibheartach, twenty-second in descent from Eochaidh Muighmeadhon, king of Ireland, who died in 366. They were at first settled in Magh Seola, to the east of Lough Corrib, but in the thirteenth century were driven from their original home by the O'Connors, and conquered a new territory in West Connaught from Lough Corrib to the sea. There were several septs of the clan." 3

Early History of the O'Flaherty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Flaherty research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1377, 1407, 1589, 1593, 1629 and 1718 are included under the topic Early O'Flaherty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Flaherty Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the O'Flaherty family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Flaherty, O'Flaherty, Flaverty, Laverty, Faherty and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Flaherty family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Roderic O'Flaherty (1629-1718) who was an Irish historian. O'Flaherty was the last "de jure" or "Lord of Iar Connacht," and the last recognized chief of the O'Flaherty Clan. He inherited Maigh Cuilinn...

O'Flaherty migration to the United States +

The 18th century saw the slow yet steady emigration of Irish families to British North America and the United States. Those early Irish settlers that left their homeland were typically moderately well off: they were enticed by the promise of a sizable plot of land. However, by the 1840s, this pattern of immigration was gone: immigrants to North America were seeking refuge from the starvation and disease that the Great Potato Famine of that decade brought. The great numbers of Irish that arrived to the United States and the soon to be Canada were instrumental in their quick development as powerful industrial nations. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists uncovered many early immigrants bearing the name O'Flaherty:

O'Flaherty Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Frank H. O'Flaherty, aged 40, who landed in America from Cork, in 1892

O'Flaherty Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Harry O'Flaherty, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States from Clifden, Ireland, in 1902
Henry O'Flaherty, aged 20, who settled in America from Clifden, Ireland, in 1904
Hannah O'Flaherty, aged 23, who landed in America from Liverpool England, in 1908
John O'Flaherty, aged 56, who landed in America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1908
Eileen O'Flaherty, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States from Kingstown, Ireland, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

O'Flaherty migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

O'Flaherty Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James O'Flaherty, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Daniel O'Connell" in 1834
Thomas O'Flaherty, aged 23, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Caronge" in 1838

O'Flaherty Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Adell O'Flaherty, aged 28, who immigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1911
Gerald O'Flaherty, aged 5, who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1911
John O'Flaherty, aged 20, who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1911

O'Flaherty migration to Australia +

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

O'Flaherty Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Edmund O'Flaherty, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Nugget" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name O'Flaherty (post 1700) +

Frank Woodrow O’Flaherty (1918-1942), American sailor, recipient of the Navy Cross, eponym of the USS O'Flaherty (DE-340)
Rev. Colman E. O'Flaherty (1874-1918), Irish-born, American recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross
Ensign Frank Woodrow O'Flaherty (1918-1942), American pilot with the USS Enterprise, eponym of the USS O'Flaherty (DE-340)
Colette O’Flaherty, Chief Herald of Ireland
Michael O'Flaherty (1891-1952), Irish politician, Mayor of Galway (1950 to 1952)
Liam O'Flaherty (1896-1984), Irish novelist and short story writer, author of The Informer (1925); Famine (novel) (1937), set around 1840's Great Famine (Ireland)
Patrick O'Flaherty CM (1939-2017), Newfoundland-born, Canadian writer, historian, and academic
Sidney Wainman "Sid" O'Flaherty (1886-1967), Australian politician
Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty (1898-1963), Vatican priest during World War II, saved many Jewish and POW lives and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
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
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
South Australian Register. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Nugget 1858. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/nugget1858.shtml