Surname Hoare - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling Hidden Ancestry: A Surprising Viking Connection in the Hoare Family History through iGENEA DNA Test

After taking my iGENEA DNA test, I uncovered startling revelations about my surname, Hoare, and its origins. Instead of a straightforward Celtic lineage, my results unveiled deep-seated connections to the uncertain Viking territory. My last name, revealing its Scandinavian roots, led me on an incipient journey of self-discovery, contradicting my family narrative and reshaping my identity in unexpected ways.

R. Hoare

Hoare: What does the surname Hoare mean?

The last name Hoare is an English surname that originated in Wales. It is derived from the Welsh word ‘hoar’, which means grey or white. The name is derived from a place called Hoar Mountain, a hill on the Isle of Anglesey.

Originally, this surname was spelled ‘Hoar’, though as the name moved to England there was a common tendency to add an ‘e’ on the end. This is how the modern name “Hoare” came to be.

The Hoare family have their roots in Wales, and are known to be descended from an ancient kingship there. The chief of the Hoare family was Rogier de Hoare, a Norman knight who received the lands of Garth in Glamorganshire in 1168. The English Hoare family were one of the few who were actually granted lands and titles as a result of the Norman conquest.

The Hoare family is also known to be one of the wealthiest families in England, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. They are well-known for their involvement in banking and finance. William Hoare and his sons, for example, created the Hoare’s Bank, which is now known as C. Hoare & Co.

Today, the name Hoare is still common in the UK and is mostly concentrated around Wales and England. It is even used in modern-day America, particularly in the states of Massachusetts and Virginia. There is also a Hoare family coat of arms, whose motto reads ‘fortis est hoar’, which translates to ‘the brave is sure’.

Hoare: Where does the name Hoare come from?

The last name Hoare is common in England, especially in the South West of the country such as Devon, Dorset and Somerset. It is a surname of Anglo-Saxon origins and derives from the Old English word 'hōr', meaning 'promontory' or 'ridge'.

The Hoare family can be traced back to a family of bankers, administrators and lawyers, who were very successful in the 18th century. The originators of the family were the Hoares of Taunton, Somerset, and they were the first bankers to provide banking services in the South West, specialising in finance, insurance and international trade. As well as banking, the Hoares were involved in agriculture, mining, and were involved in the running of woollen mills.

Today, the Hoare surname is still very common across England and can be found throughout the South West. It is also common in a few other countries, particularly in Canada, and the surname can be found in smaller numbers throughout Europe, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Hoare

The Hoare surname has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin that may be encountered when researching ancestors with this name. Variants include Hore, O'Hore, O'Hara, O'Hora, O'Hoora, and Hoore.

Although the Hoare surname is mainly found in Ireland and the United Kingdom, its variants and spellings are known around the globe. The surname Hore, for example, is often found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic name O’hEaghra, meaning 'grandson of Eaghra.'

The variant O'Hore is typically associated with the French-Norman influences of Ireland while O'Hara is a Scottish-Irish name derived from the Gaelic 'O'h-Earchu.' O’Hoora is a variant of the Irish O’Mhurchu, which means 'son of the hound.' Another variant, O'Hora, was also related to Irish chieftains and the O'hEachthigh families of Ulster during the 12th century.

The surname Hoore is believed to have arisen mainly from County Derry in Northern Ireland, and its variant Hoar is usually associated with descendants of the ancient families of Dorset, England.

Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames associated with the Hoare surname provide a wealth of possible ancestral links and research opportunities for those seeking their family histories.

Famous people with the name Hoare

• Sir Charles Hobhouse, Baronet Hoare, an English banker from a prominent banking family
• William Hoare, an 18th century English portrait and subject painter
• Thomas Hoare, an English politician and surveyor
• Richard Hoare, an English financier and goldsmith
• Edward Hoare, an English lawyer and Tory member of Parliament
• Stephen Hoare, a British actor, director, and screenwriter
• Bill Hoare, an English comedian and television presenter
• Cyrus Hoare, an English businessman and philanthropist
• Geoffrey Hoare, an English architect
• William Hoare of Bath, an 18th century English painter
• Admiral Sir Roger Hoare, a British admiral and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
• William Henry Hoare, a British Liberal Member of Parliament
• Sir John Hoare, 1st Baronet, an English schoolmaster and collector
• Peter Hoare, an English sculptor
• Francis Hoare, an English photographer
• George Hoare, an English painter and illustrator
• Edward Hoare, a British Army recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Sir Nicholas Hoare, a patron of the Royal Ballet
• Maurice Augustus Hoare, a British-Canadian attorney and judge
• Henry Hoare, an English banker, philanthropist and botanist

Other surnames

HoarHoard

Comments or additions to the name "Hoare"

02.03.2024
John Hoare...I did a DNA test and said I was 40% German which contradicts all that I know of family origins...