Surname Horohan - Meaning and Origin
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Horohan: What does the surname Horohan mean?
The last name Horohan is of Irish origin. The name is thought to be an anglicised version of the Gaelic name O' hArgadáin, translated as "the descendant of Argadáin".
The source of the name is thought to stem from a 9th century king, Eochaidh Argadáin, who was the High King of Ireland. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Irish for "ploughman".
The Horohan surname is common in areas with a strong Irish tradition, such as Connacht and Ulster. It has spread to other parts of the world, particularly the United States and Australia, due to emigration from Ireland.
The name Horohan can refer to a range of different personalities, from a hardworking ploughman to a powerful king. Despite the possible different meanings, the most common interpretation is that of a person who is hard working and reliable, with a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility.
Order DNA origin analysisHorohan: Where does the name Horohan come from?
The last name Horohan is most commonly found today in Ireland. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic surname "O hOranain" which translates to "Descendant of Oran". This was a hereditary surname used by the Ua hOranain, which translates to "descendants of Oran". The Ua hOranain was an old Gaelic clan located in the south of County Monaghan, Ireland, and was founded before 1000 AD.
The name Horohan is found throughout modern Irish records, and is used in a number of places with a large prepared Irish population. This includes the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada where the Irish diaspora have settled. Representation is also found in Australia and New Zealand, as well as some European countries such as Germany, Spain, and France.
The Horohan surname is often associated with people of Irish descent. This connection is strengthened by the traditional use of the name by the descendants of the Ua hOranain clan. There are other surnames with a similar spelling however, suggesting that the Horohan surname is shared by people with origins in different cultures. It is also assumed that some families have taken on the Horohan surname in a bid to connect their heritage with the Irish culture.
Variations of the surname Horohan
The surname Horohan is a variation of the Irish name O'Hurley, which is derived from the Gaelic given name Ó hUirthile, meaning "grandson of Uirthile". The O'Hurley surname itself is a patronymic name, meaning the son of Hurley. The O'Hurley and Horohan names have many variant spellings, including O'Hurly, O'Hurley, O'Hurlihan, Hurlee, Hurley, Hurlihen, Hurlihan, Hurly, Horley, Horly, Horlin, Horlon, Horolon, Horroughan, and Horuhon.
The Irish branch of the O'Hurleys were descended from Heremon, the son of Milesius, a mythical king of Spain. They were associated with counties Cork and Kerry and bore their Irish name until the early 20th century. The family eventually migrated to other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The surnames Hurly, Hurlee, Horley, Horly, and Horlon are related English variants of the Irish O'Hurley family,cropping up in counties Bedfordshire, Berkshihre, Kent, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Finally, the surname Horuhon is another related variant, likely arising in Scotland. It is not an Irish name, as the -on ending usually indicates an English or Scottish origin.
In short, the Horohan surname is closely related to and derived from the Irish O'Hurley family and has many variant spellings. It is strongly associated with Irish and English ancestry, yet has spread to many different countries as the family has migrated.
Famous people with the name Horohan
- Eamon Horohan: Irish footballer and manager
- Lynn Horohan: award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist
- Patrick Horohan: musician and songwriter
- Thomas Horohan: Australian Rules football player
- Padraig Horohan: Irish professional boxer
- John Horohan: Irish Gaelic footballer and manager
- Fr. Robert Horohan: Benedictine Monk and Roman Catholic Priest
- Lisa Horohan: academic and author
- Grace Horohan: American television actor
- Jerry Horohan: Northern Irish politician