O'Hora History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Irish surnames are linked to the long Gaelic heritage of the Island nation. The original Gaelic form of the name O'Hora is Ó hEaghra, connoting a descendant of Eaghra. O'Hora is a patronymic surname, which derived from the vernacular given name tradition.

Early Origins of the O'Hora family

The surname O'Hora was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the O'Hora family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Hora research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Hora History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Hora Spelling Variations

Within archives, many different spelling variations exist for the surname O'Hora. Ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in the name of the single person being recorded under several different spellings. Different spellings that were found include Hara, Harra, O'Hara and others.

Early Notables of the O'Hora family

More information is included under the topic Early O'Hora Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the O'Hora family

Irish families fled the English-colonized Ireland in record numbers during the 19th century for North America. Many of those destitute families died from disease during, and even shortly after, the long journey. Although those that immigrated before the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s often were granted a tract of land, those that arrived later were generally accommodated in urban centers or in work camps. Those in the urban centers would labor in the manufacturing sector, whereas those in work camps would to build critical infrastructures such as bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Regardless of when these Irish immigrants came to North America, they were critical for the rapid development of the young nations of the United States and Canada. Early immigration and passenger lists have recorded many early immigrants bearing the name of O'Hora: Charles O'Hara, who came to Boston in 1716; Ann O'Hara, an English convict sent to Rappahannock, Virginia in 1740; David O'Hara, who was naturalized in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1783.

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

James Joseph O'Hora (1915-2005), American college football coach for over 30 years

The O'Hora 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: Virtute et claritate
Motto Translation: By virtue and high repute.