| ![Show Contents]() O'Lahey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Ireland
Etymology of O'LaheyWhat does the name O'Lahey mean? While many of Irish names are quite familiar to most, their original Gaelic forms are often forgotten and mysterious. The original Gaelic form of the name O'Lahey is Ó Laochdha, which is derived from the word laochdha, which means heroic. 1 Early Origins of the O'Lahey familyThe surname O'Lahey 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 very ancient times, and were descended from the tribe of Uaithne. Early History of the O'Lahey familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Lahey research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1270, 1420 and 1641 are included under the topic Early O'Lahey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. O'Lahey Spelling VariationsIn the days before Gaelic or English gained any significant semblance of standardization, the scribes who created documents simply recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in the Middle Ages many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research into the O'Lahey family history revealed numerous spelling variations of the name, including Leahy, Leahey, Leghe, Lahey, Lahy, O'Leahy and others. Early Notables of the O'Lahey familyMore information is included under the topic Early O'Lahey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the O'Lahey familyIn the 18th and 19th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants landed on North American shores. Although many of them were merely looking for a free plot of land and living of their very own, many later immigrants were desperately fleeing an overcrowded land that did not have sufficient food for its inhabitants. The exodus from Ireland was greatest during the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine had stricken the island. Although this large influx of Irish was unpopular with the great majority of people already established within the major centers, these Irish were critical to the speedy development of the United States and those colonies that would eventually become known as Canada. These immigrants provided the cheap labor required to build modern roads, bridges, canals, and railways. Research of passenger and immigration lists has shown a number of immigrants to North America baring the name of O'Lahey: Arthur Lahey settled in Virginia in 1649; Andrew, Dennis, James, Patrick Lahey all landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1833 and 1868; James, Thomas, and William Lahey settled in Boston Massachusetts between 1848 and 1849.
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: Tout vient de dieu
Motto Translation: All comes from God.
- MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
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