Surname O'Garrah - Meaning and Origin
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O'Garrah: What does the surname O'Garrah mean?
The Irish surname O'Garrah likely originates from the Gaelic phrase "O'Gara," which is derived from the old Irish given name "Garrai." "Garrai" was derived from the Old Irish word "gar," which means "peace" or "illustrious."
The Irish O'Garrah family is believed to have descended from a powerful chieftain named Niall Garrai, who was recorded as the chief of Cinel Fearmaighe in County Londonderry in the 12th century. The majority of the O'Garrah family is believed to be descended from teh legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages, the ancestor of many of the Irish septs in Munster, Connacht, and the Northern Provinces.
The O'Garra family in modern times is found primarily in areas of the province of Ulster, including Donegal, Armagh, and Derry. This particular Irish surname is unique and quite rare, and its meaning as “peace” or “illustrious” likely reflects the heroic and proud legacy of its origin. However, its variants include Garrah, Gara, and Garry, among others. It is also noted that the spelling of O'Garrah has changed over the years, possibly due to various translations and diasporas throughout the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Garrah: Where does the name O'Garrah come from?
The last name O'Garrah is of Irish origin and is predominantly found in County Galway, Ireland. Although not as common as it once was, the name is still found in some parts of Ireland today.
The O'Garrah’s trace their ancestry back to the O'Gara (or Ó Gadhra) Clan of Síl Muiredaig, a twelfth-century branch of the Connaucht. It is believed that the name O'Garrah is derived from the Gaelic phrase ‘og Aramh’, which translates as ‘descendants of Aramh’.
Today, the O'Garrah last name is most common in County Galway, where it is, or once was, particularly associated with the areas of Carraroe, Costellopy, Glenamaddy, and Tuam. In fact, there are still several O'Garrah families living in Carraroe, the ancestral home of the Clann O'Garrah.
In addition to County Galway, the last name O'Garrah can also be found in nearby Counties Mayo and Offaly as well as in parts of County Cork and Northern Ireland. It is also common in the United States, Australia and Canada, thanks to the Irish diaspora of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today, the O'Garrah last name is far less common in Ireland than it once was, but it is still found in some parts of the country. While the name may be taken for granted by some, it stands true as a reminder of the powerful and influential O'Gara Clan and their legacy.
Variations of the surname O'Garrah
The surname O'Garrah originates from the Irish Gaels, and has a long-standing history in Ireland. O'Garrah is an Anglicization of the Gaelic 'O' gCearbhail, which translates to “descendant of Cearbhail”. The name has many variants which are derived from the original Gaelic, as each dialect of the language had its own variation. These variants include O'Garra, O'Garro, O'Gara, O’Gara, Geary, Gearry, Garrey, Garreye, Garra, Garro, Gara, and Garah.
These variants can be further divided into a variety of alternative spellings, some of the most popular of which are O'Garrah, O'Gareh, O'Gerah, O'Gerra, O'Gairah, O'Garuh, O'Gorrah, and O'Gorroh. As the Gaelic language has evolved over the years, many of these surnames have also been adapted into English spellings and adapted to reflect more modern sounds.
Because the O'Garrahs were among the Irish diaspora, the name can be seen around the world. In the US, the surname is most commonly seen as Geary, Garrey or O'Garra. In Europe, variants such as O'Gara, O'Garrah, and Garah are most common. In Australia, O'Gerah is seen more often.
In general, the most common variations of the surname O'Garrah are O'Garrah, O'Gareh, O'Gerah, O'Gerra, O'Gairah, O'Garuh, O'Gorrah, O'Gorroh, Geary, Garrey, Garreye, Garra, Garro, Gara, and Garah. These can be further broken down by regional dialects and modern spellings, depending on the country of origin.
Famous people with the name O'Garrah
- James O'Garra: Irish civil engineer and public official
- Martin O'Garra: Irish professional boxer
- Denis O'Garra: Irish stage and film actor
- Patrick O'Garra: Irish footballer
- Daniel O'Garra: Irish rugby union player
- Gerard O'Garra: Irish singer, musician and songwriter
- Madeline O'Garra: Irish politician
- Fanny O'Garra: American stage and screen actress
- Sue O'Garra: Irish singer-songwriter and actress
- Cathal O'Garra: Irish lawyer and public official