Surname O'Moore - Meaning and Origin

O'Moore: What does the surname O'Moore mean?

The last name O'Moore is a patronymic surname, which is a name derived from the name of one's father, grandparent, or other ancestor. The name originates from the ancient Irish-Gaelic clan Ó Mórdha, which dates back to pre-Norman times. The literal meaning of O'Moore is 'descendant of Mórdha', with Mórdha being an ancient Irish Celtic personal name meaning 'large', 'big', and 'proud'.

The O'Moore Clan has a long and distinguished lineage, tracing their ancestry to a period lasting from the 7th century through to the late 17th century. During this time, they played a significant role in the politics and social structure of the ancient Irish-Gaelic regions.

The O'Moore Clan was based in Laois, located in the modern day Irish midlands. During this time, they were known to be fierce warriors with an impressive reputation, even being referred to as “the terror of the Pale” by English settlers. Though they were in contention for land and resources with the English, and forced to constantly defend their territories, the O'Moore Clan remains one of the most powerful clans in Irish history.

The name O'Moore is commonly found in both Ireland and the United States. Today, many who bear the name can still trace their lineage back to this powerful and proud Irish-Gaelic family.

O'Moore: Where does the name O'Moore come from?

The last name O'Moore is a common Irish surname, and it is commonly associated with the ancient Irish kingdom of Leix (modern-day County Laois). The origins of the name date back to the Middle Ages, when O'Moore was an honorific title of a member of the ruling family of Leix.

Today, the last name O'Moore is mostly found in Ireland, although there are also instances where the name has spread to other countries around the world. In the United States, many people with the last name O'Moore can be found living in large cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston, or even smaller cities throughout the country. In the United Kingdom, while not as common, O'Moore is still present in some of the larger cities.

Due to large waves of Irish emigration, the name O'Moore can now be found in countries such as Australia, Canada, and even New Zealand. These countries are home to a large population of Irish ex-pats, many of whom were originally from County Laois. In more recent times, the last name O’Moore has spread even further to countries such as Spain, Greece, and Italy, which all have a significant Irish presence.

Overall, the last name O'Moore is most commonly associated with County Laois in Ireland, but can now be found in many countries around the world as a result of past Irish emigration.

Variations of the surname O'Moore

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname O'Moore include O'More, Omor, O'Moar, More, Moore, Moar, and O'Moores.

The original form of the surname O'Moore was derived from the original Gaelic name ‘O’Mughroir’, which means descendant of the dark one. This name was eventually Anglicized to O'Moore.

In Scotland, the family name was also originally written as O'Mure or O'Muire, derived from a variation of the Gaelic ‘O’Muire’. This name can be translated to mean ‘Son of Muire’ or ‘Son of Mary’, reflecting the Irish Catholic tradition.

In some parts of Ireland, the surname encountered variations such as O’Mor, O’Moor, O’Moar, More and Moore. These are all different spellings of the same original surname, and are derived from the Gaelic spelling.

The spelling variant of O’Moores stems from the added family suffix ‘s’, where members of the same extended family were given the same surname with the suffix. For example, the children of the first male bearers may have been named O'Moores, or the brother of the original bearer may have taken on a variation of the surname.

In Ireland, Scotland and England, O'Moore is still used as a family name, and other variants also can still be found in some parts of the British Isles.

Famous people with the name O'Moore

• Ciara O'Moore: Actress best known for her roles in Gateway to Hell, Bullets Over Hollywood, and The First Lady of Hollywood.
• Anne O'Moore Creighton: First woman to be appointed as a judge in Ireland and the first female member of the Council of State.
• Rob O'Moore: English footballer who formerly played for various clubs, including Crystal Palace.
• Dee O'Moore: Former Irish Labour Party politician and Lord Mayor of Dublin.
• Petronella O'Moore: Ballerina and contemporary dancer.
• Maureen O'Moore: Actress and playwright who appeared in the feature film Angel of Death.
• Willie O'Moore: Irish golfer who won the Irish Professional Championshiop in 1964, 1966, and 1967.
• Seamus O'Moore: Irish jockey who reached the peak of her career when she won the Epsom Derby in 1982.
• Dr. Marcus O'Moore: Orthopaedic surgeon who became an expert in spine treatments and surgeries.
• Father John O'Moore: Catholic pastor who served in the San Francisco Diocese for many years.

Other surnames

O'MooneyO'Moor