Holleran History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Holleran

What does the name Holleran mean?

The name Holleran originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó hAllmhurain, which is derived from the word allmhurach, which means pirate. 1

The main branch of the family claim descent through the O'Connors (Kings of Connaught) and as such from the Heremon Kings of Ireland. 2

Early Origins of the Holleran family

The surname Holleran was first found in counties of Clare and Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. The Holleran variant is typical to Counties Galway and Mayo. 3

"This family were, as the name implies, 'importers' of Wine; and were lords of Clan Fergail, a district in which Galway town is situate; and had their castle at Barns, close to the sea-side, about three miles west of Galway. The MS. Vol. H. 2.17, in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, states that 'O'Halloran is the chief of twenty-four townlands on Clan Fergail; and of theses are the O'Antuiles and O'Fergus of Roscam.' That statement refers to the twelve century. These twenty-four townlands of Clan Fergail lay east of the river Gallimh (or 'Galway.') In the 13th century the O'Hallorans were dispossessed of their ancient inheritance of Clan Fergail by the De Burgos [(Burke)] invaders. The O'Hallorans and the O'Flahertys, [moved] to Iar (or West) Connaught, where they built the castle of O'Hery in Gnomore; and according to tradition, the castle or Rinville in Northern Connenara. According to the Chronicles of the Wars of Thomond, at A.D. 1309, there was another family of the O'Hallorans in Thomond, descended from the stock of the O'Briens and other Dalcassians in Munster." 2

Early History of the Holleran family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Holleran research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Holleran History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Holleran Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, a person's name was often recorded under several spelling variations during a single lifetime because it was essentially up to the individual scribe's discretion as to how to record an individual's name. Research into the name Holleran revealed many variations, including Halloran, O'Halloran, Haloran and others.

Early Notables of the Holleran family

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

Holleran Ranking

In the United States, the name Holleran is the 17,727^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Holleran migration to the United States +

The 19th century brought a massive reduction in Ireland's population. It seemed that during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s the Irish people had two options: starve or immigrate. Those that chose the later frequently headed for the United States, hopeful for land, work, and equality. Those determined for free land joined the migration west; while others stayed behind to live in urban centers and often work in factories. Still others began a transitory life in work camps, building the bridges, canals, railways, and highways so critical to the rapidly development of the growing industrial nation. Early passenger and immigration lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Holleran:

Holleran Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Eugene Holleran, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1872 5
Morris Holleran, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1872 5

Holleran migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Holleran Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary Holleran, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1807
Mary Holleran, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1817
Catherine Holleran, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1830
Mr. James Holleran, aged 25 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Junior" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 6
Miss. Mary Holleran, aged 10 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Lively" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Holleran (post 1700) +

Andrew Holleran (b. 1944), pseudonym of Eric Garber, American novelist, essayist, and short story writer
William T. Holleran, American Republican politician, Delegate to Connecticut State Constitutional Convention 3rd District, 1965 7
Thomas J. Holleran, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1952 7
Paul Holleran, English manager of Leamington FC

The Holleran Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Clann feargaill abu

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 34)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html