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![Show Contents]() O'Horan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland
Gaelic, otherwise known as Early Modern Irish, was used in Ireland from around the year 1200 until the 18th century. It is from this language that we found the first references to the name O'Horan as Ó hOdhrain, which is derived from the word odhar, which means dun-colored. 1 Early Origins of the O'Horan familyThe surname O'Horan was first found in County Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they held a family seat from ancient times. This distinguished tribe was descended from Eochy Moyvane who was the 124th monarch of Ireland, and from whom was descended King Niall of the Nine Hostages. King Niall was perhaps Ireland's greatest Commander King who was instrumental in routing the Romans from the British Isles. This group of tribes were known as the Septs of the Hy-Niall, and they were Chiefs of the territories in Ulster, Meath and Connacht. Early History of the O'Horan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Horan research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Horan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. O'Horan Spelling VariationsPeople who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname O'Horan that are preserved in archival documents are Haren, Horan, Harhan, Haran, O'Horan, O'Hourahan, O'Horahan, O'Haren, O'Harhan, O'Haran, O'Hanran and many more. Early Notables of the O'Horan familyMore information is included under the topic Early O'Horan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the O'Horan familyIreland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name O'Horan to North America: Edward Horan who settled in Pennsylvania in 1773; Michael, Eliza and Michael Horan junior landed in Quebec in 1848; John, Michael and Simon Horan settled in New York state between 1803 and 1811.
- MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
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