Herent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of Herent

Gaelic, otherwise known as Early Modern Irish, was used in Ireland from around the year 1200 until the 18th century. It is from this language that we found the first references to the name Herent as Ó hOdhrain, which is derived from the word odhar, which means dun-colored. 1

Early Origins of the Herent family

Early History of the Herent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Herent research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Herent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Herent Spelling Variations

A name was often recorded during the Middle Ages under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer because literacy was rare there was no real push to clearly define any of the languages found in the British Isles at that time. Variations found of the name Herent include Haren, Horan, Harhan, Haran, O'Horan, O'Hourahan, O'Horahan, O'Haren, O'Harhan, O'Haran, O'Hanran and many more.

Early Notables of the Herent family

More information is included under the topic Early Herent Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Herent family

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Herent family came to North America quite early: Edward Horan who settled in Pennsylvania in 1773; Michael, Eliza and Michael Horan junior landed in Quebec in 1848; John, Michael and Simon Horan settled in New York state between 1803 and 1811.