Show ContentsHalloran History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Halloran

What does the name Halloran mean?

The name Halloran originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó hAllmhurain, which is derived from the word allmhurach, which means pirate. 1

The main branch of the family claim descent through the O'Connors (Kings of Connaught) and as such from the Heremon Kings of Ireland. 2

Early Origins of the Halloran family

The surname Halloran was first found in counties of Clare and Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. The Holleran variant is typical to Counties Galway and Mayo. 3

"This family were, as the name implies, 'importers' of Wine; and were lords of Clan Fergail, a district in which Galway town is situate; and had their castle at Barns, close to the sea-side, about three miles west of Galway. The MS. Vol. H. 2.17, in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, states that 'O'Halloran is the chief of twenty-four townlands on Clan Fergail; and of theses are the O'Antuiles and O'Fergus of Roscam.' That statement refers to the twelve century. These twenty-four townlands of Clan Fergail lay east of the river Gallimh (or 'Galway.') In the 13th century the O'Hallorans were dispossessed of their ancient inheritance of Clan Fergail by the De Burgos [(Burke)] invaders. The O'Hallorans and the O'Flahertys, [moved] to Iar (or West) Connaught, where they built the castle of O'Hery in Gnomore; and according to tradition, the castle or Rinville in Northern Connenara. According to the Chronicles of the Wars of Thomond, at A.D. 1309, there was another family of the O'Hallorans in Thomond, descended from the stock of the O'Briens and other Dalcassians in Munster." 2

Early History of the Halloran family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Halloran research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Halloran History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Halloran Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland in the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best due to competing dialects and languages, and the general illiteracy of the population. Research into the name Halloran revealed many spelling variations, including Halloran, O'Halloran, Haloran and others.

Early Notables of the Halloran family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

  • Lawrence O'Halloran, Irish Poet

Halloran Ranking

In the United States, the name Halloran is the 6,917th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4


Halloran migration to the United States +

Many Irish families did not fare so well within the English-ruled Ireland. Besides racial and religious discrimination, many families were renting out small tracts of farmland from absentee landowners at often unreasonable rates. Beginning in the late 18th century, moderately well off Irish families decided to emigrate to British North America or the United States in order to own their own plot of land. A radical change occurred in the 1840s, however, with the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Up to this point, the island's population had been increasing rapidly and a steady demand over the years for grain crops had depleted soil. Two failed crops and one poor one caused widespread disease and starvation. Thousands boarded ships looking for opportunities elsewhere. North America welcomed them as a source of cheap labor required for the many industrial and infrastructure projects underway, and as a means to quickly occupy the western regions. Research into immigration and passenger ship lists indicates that people bearing the name Halloran were among the earliest settlers to arrive in North America:

Halloran Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Simon J Halloran, who arrived in Mississippi in 1854 5
  • Patrick Halloran, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Maryland in 1856 5
  • John Halloran, who arrived in St Clair County in 1871 5
  • Garrett Halloran, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1888 5

Halloran migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Halloran Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Bridget Halloran, aged 23, a widow, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" from Galway, Ireland
  • John Halloran, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Sea Horse" from Galway, Ireland
  • Peggy Halloran, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Sea Horse" from Galway, Ireland
  • Biddy, Ellen, Lawrence, Martin, Mathew and Michael Halloran all, who arrived in Canada in 1847

Halloran migration to Australia +

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

Halloran Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Lawrence Halloran, (Halloron, Hines, Charles William, Gregory)1765, English school teacher who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for forgery, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1831 6
  • Mr. Edward Halloran, (b. 1806), aged 16, Irish convict who was convicted in Waterford Ireland for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Brampton" on 8th November 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1844 7
  • Mr. Patrick Halloran, (b. 1806), aged 26, Irish farm labourer who was convicted in Galway, Ireland for life for being a rebel, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 10th May 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1879 8
  • Patrick Halloran, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 9
  • James Halloran, aged 29, a ploughman, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halloran 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:

Halloran Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Bridget Halloran, aged 18, a housemaid, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Forfarshire" in 1873 11
  • John Halloran, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Salisbury" in 1876
  • Mr. Thomas Halloran, (b. 1854), aged 23, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Marlborough" arriving in Bluff, South Island, New Zealand on 4th November 1877 12
  • Mr. John Halloran, (b. 1856), aged 22, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Western Monarch" arriving in New Zealand in 1879 13
  • Mr. Patrick Halloran, (b. 1853), aged 25, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Western Monarch" arriving in New Zealand in 1879 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Halloran (post 1700) +

  • Bob Halloran (1934-2022), American sportscaster with CBS Sports in New York from New Bedford, Massachusetts
  • Brigadier-General George Matthew Halloran (1889-1965), American Acting Chief of Staff 81st Division (1941) 14
  • Lia Halloran (b. 1977), American painter and photographer
  • Amy Halloran (b. 1981), American actress
  • Jack Halloran (1916-1997), American composer and choral director
  • Laurence Hynes Halloran (1765-1831), English convict who became a pioneer schoolteacher and journalist in Australia after being charged at the Old Bailey with having forged a frank in 1818 15
  • Danny Halloran, former Australian rules footballer
  • Brenda Halloran, Canadian politician
  • Henry Ferdinand Halloran, Australian major property owner and developer in New South Wales in the early part of the twentieth Century
  • Antoinette Halloran, Australian operatic soprano
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. William Ignatius Halloran, American Ensign from Ohio, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 16
USS Indianapolis
  • Edward George Halloran, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 17


The Halloran 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: Clann feargaill abu


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
  2. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  3. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Brampton
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) TRAFALGAR 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Trafalgar-March.htm
  10. South Australian Register Monday 9th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Flora 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/flora1855.shtml
  11. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 6th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  14. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 5) George Halloran. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Halloran/George_Matthew/USA.html
  15. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
  16. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
  17. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew


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