Surname O'Gorra - Meaning and Origin
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O'Gorra: What does the surname O'Gorra mean?
The last name O'Gorra is of Irish origin and it is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Gadhra. It is derived from the old Gaelic name "Ó Gadhra" which was the family name of a branch of the Connacht people who were of the Uí Fiachrach dynasty from the region of Mayo in northwest Ireland.
The O'Gorra family was of the Uí Fiachrach lineage, which had descended from Fiachrach, an ancient Irish king. This ancient dynasty was among the most famous and powerful military dynasties of the ancient Irish provinces. The O'Gorra family evolved into a sept of the Uí Fiachrach dynasty, and were located in various parts of Connacht.
The original Gaelic meaning of the name O'Gorra is ‘son of the gracious one’ or ‘son of the brave one’. The O'Gorra family lived in many parts of Connacht, mainly in the counties of Mayo, Sligo, and Roscommon.
Throughout their history, the O'Gorra family had close associations with Gaelic football, with several members playing for Connacht and Ireland. They were also renowned poets and farmers. The name O'Gorra is still found mainly in Mayo, where it is among the top fifty most common surnames of the county, and is still a popular name throughout the West of Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Gorra: Where does the name O'Gorra come from?
The last name O'Gorra is a very uncommon name today and can mostly be found in Ireland. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic O'Goburra, which was a form of the Norman de Gouberville family who arrived in Ireland in the 12th century. The family had a spread out presence in the country, with members in counties Dublin, Limerick, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath, Leitrim, Offaly, and Galway. Most O'Gorras now live in the Munster counties of Tipperary, Waterford, and Cork.
The most likely origin of the name is French, with the prefix ‘O'Gor’ meaning ‘golden hill’. O'Gorra was a popular name in the 13th and the 14th century, but since then its usage began to decline. In more recent times, there has been a steady rise in the use of the name, with some people using it as a middle name instead of an actual last name.
Today, there are a number of O'Gorras scattered all over the world, mostly in Australia, Canada, and the United States. However, in the United States, the number of O'Gorras is very minimal and concentrated in a few Irish diaspora clusters such as Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.
Thus, while still rare, the last name O'Gorra is slowly increasing in popularity as more and more individuals adopt it, even while living in different parts of the world.
Variations of the surname O'Gorra
The surname O'Gorra is an Irish surname, and is also spelled O’Gorra, O Goirra, O Gorra, or O Gorrah, among other variations. All of these spellings share the same origin, which is derived from the Irish Gaelic surname “O’Gobhartha” meaning “of the sickle”.
The surname is derived from a prominent family of fifteenth century Irish chieftains. The family was based in County Galway and the western part of County Mayo, and were chiefs of Leckankeely. The family was also known for its contribution to the fields of medicine and law, and were recorded as physicians and retainers of the O'Connor's of Connacht.
Variant spellings of the surname include O’Gorra, O Goirra, O Gorra, O Gorrah, Gora, O Gorraigh, Gorrity, O Goradh, Gorard, and more.
Surnames of similar origin and pronunciation include Gomara, Gomera, O Gormally, O Gormley, O Gormly, O Gormly, O Gormaile, Gormley, and Gormly.
The surname O'Gorra is still common in Ireland and the variants have spread to several other countries. Those with the surname are mostly found in Ireland, the United Kingdom, America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name O'Gorra
- Alex O’Gorra: Alex O’Gorra is a professional actor and dancer from Spain, known for his works in “Toni Expósito”, “El Infierno” and “Violeta no quiere volver a casa”.
- Jorge O’Gorra: Jorge O’Gorra is an Argentinean musician, playing saxophone and flute. He’s widely popular in Argentina for his works with Argentinean rock bands, such as “David Lebon and Los Redondos”.
- Sharon O’Gorra: Sharon O’Gorra is an Irish-American singer from Brooklyn, NY. She studied Music Theory at Brooklyn College and has released two solo albums; “One Last Dream” and “Bright Lights and Rainy Nights”.
- Debbie O’Gorra: Debbie O’Gorra is an award-winning investigative reporter from London, England. She won a BAFTA Television Award for her work on uncovering the human trafficking issues in Scotland.
- James O’Gorra: James O’Gorra is an American singer, songwriter and poet from New York. He’s released three solo records and is most widely known for his controversial single “Big City Life”.
- Seamus O’Gorra: Seamus O’Gorra is a former Gaelic football player and manager, having played in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship for Tyrone. He is credited with having invented the drop-kick goal.
- Lucia O’Gorra: Lucia O’Gorra is a fashion designer from Portugal, currently based in Lisbon. She’s known for her androgynous and minimalist designs, which have been featured in Portuguese Vogue and various European fashion magazines.
- Patrick O’Gorra: Patrick O’Gorra is an Irish-American comedian and actor, performing stand-up comedy around the US for many years. He’s best known as a frequent guest on “The Irish Comedy Show”.