Surname Odhar - Meaning and Origin
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Odhar: What does the surname Odhar mean?
The last name Odhar is mainly found in Scotland and Ireland, and is generally thought to be derived from either the Gaelic personal name Odhar or from the ancient Irish Gaelic O’dubhshláine, meaning “descendant of Dubhshláine.” The Dubhshláine personal name is thought to derive from the Gaelic word dubh, meaning “dark” or “black” and sláine, meaning “challenge” or “aspiration.” Thus, taken together, the name Odhar can be translated to mean “he of the dark challenge” or “he of the dark aspiration.”
The surname of Odhar is also thought to be derived from the Old Norse name Oddr, meaning “point” or “spear.” In this case, the name could be interpreted as a reference to a spear-pointed weapon or someone skilled in the use of spears.
Throughout history, those bearing the Odhar surname have been known to move around significantly, from being described in records as “u´dhuir,” meaning “of the island” and “u´ghar” which means “of the field”, indicating that the individual in question was likely born, raised, and worked in the open country.
Regardless of its exact origin, it can be said that the surname of Odhar is steeped in tradition and meaning. It is a testament to the strength and determination of its bearers, taking from ancient cultures to pass down a proud surname full of power and meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisOdhar: Where does the name Odhar come from?
The last name Odhar is commonly found today in the regions near the Irish Sea along the Atlantic Coast. It is believed that the Odhar family originated in Donegal, Ireland, and is thought to be an Irish Gaelic form of the name MacDeardhu, meaning “landless” or “not satisfied”. This surname is still strong in Donegal and other coastal areas of Ireland, such as Tyrone, Antrim, Mayo and Sligo. It is also common throughout Scotland and Northern England, especially in the Cumbrian region and Northern Counties.
Odhar is also prevalent in the United States today, predominately in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and in Canada, particularly in Ontario. It is believed that this surname began travelling to the U.S. and Canada in the mid-19th century during the Irish diaspora, when millions of Irish people emigrated in search of work and a better life. Today, members of the Odhar family are found in all corners of the United States and in all provinces of Canada.
Those with the Odhar surname often still have close connections to their Irish roots, and many trace their ancestry back to the Donegal, Ireland area. It is common for those that have Odhar as a surname to celebrate the Irish culture and their Gaelic heritage. The Odhar name has survived in spite of the many challenges faced by the family during their migration around the world.
Variations of the surname Odhar
The surname Odhar has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. All of these forms are derived from the Gaelic name "Ó Dubhàir", which has a literal translation of "dark/black haired".
The Basque variant of the name is "Odabarri" or "Odabarria", both of which roughly translate to "dark/black haired". The Hungarian form of the name is "Odabar", and its Croatian form is "Odabas".
In addition to its Gaelic variants, the surname Odhar also has some Welsh spellings, all of which are derived from the Welsh personal name "Dubhar". The Welsh spellings include Dubar, Dubarr, Dubharr, and Dobir.
Anglicised versions of the surname Odhar include Odiar, O'diar, O'dar, Odar, Dirr, Dir, Dore, O'dore, and Darr. All of these forms of the surname reflect the same meaning of "dark/black haired".
The Irish version of the name, “Ó Dubhàir”, is also observed in some other forms. These include Ó Dubhda, Ua Dubhda, MacDubhda, Doohey, Duhig, Dubey, and Duhigg.
Overall, the surname Odhar and its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin reflect the literal translation of "dark/black haired". Its various spellings can be found in Gaelic, Welsh, Basque, Hungarian, and Croatian languages, as well as some Anglicised versions.
Famous people with the name Odhar
- John B. Ó Dhálaigh, former President of Ireland
- Siobhán O'Dhalaigh, Irish Senator
- Felix Ó Dhálaigh, Gaelic football and hurling manager
- Pauline O'Dhalaigh, Irish politician
- Mick O'Dhalaigh, Irish author
- Patrick O'Dhalaigh, Irish politician
- Nick O'Dhalaigh, Irish hurling manager
- Padraig O'Dhalaigh, Irish sports administrator
- Sean Ó Dhálaigh, Irish writer
- Pádhraic Ó Dhálaigh, Irish poet