Surname O Gara - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
O Gara: What does the surname O Gara mean?
The surname "O'Gara" is of Irish origin, specifically from the Gaelic "Ó Gadhra." The prefix "Ó" means "grandson of" or "descendant of," indicating a kinship or family line. The term "Gadhra" is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "gadhar" which translates to "hound" or "dog." Therefore, O'Gara can be loosely interpreted to mean "descendant of the hound." This moniker would have likely been symbolic, possibly suggesting qualities such as loyalty, courage, or being a skilled hunter, associated with the family. The O'Gara family was part of the regional chieftains in Sligo County in the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisO Gara: Where does the name O Gara come from?
The last name O Gara is most commonly associated with Ireland, which is unsurprising given its Irish roots. It is an ancient, noble, and veteran surname, which is still found across the Emerald Isle. However, in recent years, the name has spread internationally, particularly due to increased global mobility. Today, people bearing the name O Gara can be found living in various countries, including the United States, Canada, England, France, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as Ireland.
The popularity of the O Gara surname varies in each of these countries, with the name being especially well-known in the United States. According to the 2020 US Census, there are over 7,000 people bearing the O Gara surname currently living in the US.
In some parts of England the surname may also be spelled as O'Gara, and a search of England's 2011 census reveals over 4,300 people bearing the surname living in England and Wales.
Additionally, the O Gara name continues to be present in many parts of Ireland, with central counties such as Leitrim, Roscommon, and Mayo having a relatively high concentration of the surname. According to statistics from the 2016 Irish census, over 1,600 people were living in Ireland with the surname O Gara.
Overall, it appears that people bearing the surname O Gara may be found in many places around the world, and the name continues to be relatively common in many parts of Ireland.
Variations of the surname O Gara
The surname O Gara is an Irish-Gaelic surname and has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include O Gaoithin, which is an Anglicised rendition of the original Gaelic spelling of the name. Other common anglicised spellings include O'Gara, Gara, Gough, Garraghty and O'Gara.
The surname O Gara, while sounding distinct, is often anglicised to O'Gara, which is a form of the name more familiar to the English-speaking world. O'Gara is the more commonly encountered spelling in Australia and the United States whereas O Gara is more frequently found in Ireland.
The O'Gara's, while remaining distinct, also share a similar origin with several other surnames. The common spelling of these surnames includes, Gara, Gough, Garraghty, Gauraghty and O'Garah. While all of these surnames have different origins and likely distinct lineages of particular families, they can trace their ancestry back to the Irish surname O Gara.
Despite the various spelling variants of this surname, the essence and origin remains the same. Each forms a distinctive and unique representation of the long history behind the name O Gara.
Famous people with the name O Gara
- Rory O'Gara: An Irish born singer-songwriter who has released various albums and EPs, as well as having performed and composed for other artists.
- Grainne O'Gara: An Irish actress who has starred in several television series and films.
- Paul O'Gara: Actor and writer best know for his role in the Irish comedy series Father Ted.
- Sean O'Gara: A retired Irish sportsman who represented Ireland in rugby union and rowing. He also captained the Irish rowing team in both the World Championship and the Olympic Games.
- P. J. O'Gara: A former professional golfer who was a member of the European Tour and competed in various other tournaments over the course of his career.
- Daire O'Gara: An Irish professional snooker player who has recently been playing tournaments both in the UK and abroad.
- Kyle O'Gara: An American racecar driver who is currently competing in the Indy Lights series.
- Sieglinde O'Gara: A renowned Irish sculptor and furniture maker best known for her work in wood and metal.
- Bernard O'Gara: An Irish-born author who has written various novels and FLY kids books.
- Siobhan O'Gara: An Irish singer and composer who has released several solo albums and performed as a backing vocalist for other Irish artists.