O'Hara surname history

O'Hara is a phonetic anglicisation of O hEaghra. The family claim descent from Eaghra, lord of Luighne (the modern Leyney) in Co. Sligo, who died in 976 and who was himself, in the traditional genealogies, of the family of Olloil Ollum, king of Munster. The O'Haras remain strongly associated with Co. Sligo, where they were chiefs in two areas, O hEaghra Buidhe ("fair") around Collooney, and O hEaghra Riabhach ("grey") at Ballyharry, more properly "Ballyhara". In the fourteenth century a branch of the family migrated north to the Glens of Antrim and established themselves in the area around the modern town of Ballymena. There they intermarried with powerful local families and acquired great prominence themselves. Another branch, in Sligo, acquired the title Barons Tyrawley in the early 18th century and acquired very large land-holdings in counties Sligo and Leitrim.

In some parts of Ulster, notably Fermanagh, O?Hara has been used as a variant of Haren, a name derived from O hArain, who were prominent in medieval times in the area of Ballymactaggart in that county.

Apart from Dublin, Sligo and Antrim are still the two regions where the surname is most concentrated.

William O?Hara. (1816-1899) was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

John O'Hara, (1905-1970), was an American writer of novels and short stories, celebrated in his day. His novel Ten North Frederick (1955) won the National Book Award, and the Rodgers and Hart musical Pal Joey (1940) was based on a short story of his.

Another O?Hara to win the National Book Award was the poet Frank O?Hara (1923 - 1968). The Award was for his Collected Poems, published posthumously in 1970.

Maureen O?Hara, (1921 - ) is the stage name of Irish actress Maureen Fitzsimons, best known for such films and The Quiet Man.(1952) and Miracle on 34th Street (1947).