O'Hare Coat of Arms, Family Crest and O'Hare Family History

O'Hare Family History

The ancient origin of the name O'Hare was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. The names O'Hare and O'Hehir are derived from a Gaelic sept name which is also anglicized as McGarry, Garrihy, Hehir, Hare and Garry. This important family has it's origin with the ancient Ui Fidhgheinte group and has been established from very early times in County Clare in the heart of Thomond. The great majority of these were descendants of the Oriel sept of O'hIr and O'hEir who were akin to the O'Hanlons and seated in the barony of Oriel, Armagh. From there they spread to Counties Antrim, Down, Louth and Clare. Today the name is regarded as Dalcassian in origin with it's stronghold still in County Clare.The O'Hare family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including O'Hare descendants.