O'Haran
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The Irish surname (O)Haran is an anglicized form of the Gaelic O'hEarain. The prefix "O" signifies "son of" or "descendant" and would indicate the patronymic origin of the surname while the second element of the name is derived from the Gaelic word "earadh" meaning "dread". This may have been applied to someone who was perhaps fierce in appearance or in combat. In early times, the main territory where the sept was located was Oriel which was comprised of the counties of Armagh, Monaghan and parts of south Down, Louth and Fermanagh. It appears that the name was most frequent in County Armagh.
In the survey of birth indexes for Ireland that was carried out in 1890, there are thirty seven instances of the surname Haran or Haren with both names being most numerous in County Clare and County Mayo. The surname has also often been confused with Heron. However, Heron, which is often a synonym of Heffron and Ahearne is a different name and has a different derivation. The prefix "O" which originally accompanied this surname has, by now, largely disappeared. In general, Gaelic prefixes tended to be discarded as early as the middle of the seventeenth century (the time of the Gaelic and Catholic submergence) and despite a revival of sorts in the late nineteenth century, were usually never resumed.
Blazon of arms: Gules on a bend argent a rose between two lions passant of the first. The rose denotes beauty and grace. The lion signifies majesty and strength.
Crest : A demi lion as in the arms.
[edit] References
- The Historical Research Center
