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Mahar History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Mahar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Mahar

What does the name Mahar mean?

While many Irish names are familiar, their past incarnations are often shrouded in mystery, reflecting the ancient Gaelic heritage of their bearers. The original Gaelic form of the name Mahar is Ó Meachair, derived from the word "michair," which means "hospitable" or "kindly." 1

Early Origins of the Mahar family

The surname Mahar was first found in County Tipperary (Irish: Thiobraid Árann), established in the 13th century in South-central Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they traditionally belong to the barony of Ikerrin. The family has retained this area as their homestead as over 50% of them come from here. 2

"The O'Meaghers were formerly powerful Chiefs possessing the Barony of Ikerrin, in County Tipperary, of which O'Meagher was Lord. The Meaghers or Mahers are principally found in County Tipperary at present." 3

Early History of the Mahar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mahar research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1551, 1635 and 1705 are included under the topic Early Mahar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mahar Spelling Variations

Within archives, many different spelling variations exist for the surname Mahar. Ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in the name of the single person being recorded under several different spellings. Different spellings that were found include Maher, O'Meagher, Meagher, O'Maher, Mahir and others.

Early Notables of the Mahar family

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

Mahar Ranking

In the United States, the name Mahar is the 11,671^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Mahar migration to the United States +

In the 18th and 19th centuries hundreds of thousands of Irish people immigrated to North American shores. The early settlers were enticed by the promise of their own land, but they were moderately well off in Ireland when they decided to emigrate. Therefore, they were merely carrying out a long and carefully thought out decision. The 1840s saw the emergence of a very different trend: thousands of extremely desperate people crammed into passenger boats hoping to find any type of opportunity. The Irish of this decade had seen their homeland severely stricken by crop failures which resulted in widespread disease and starvation. At whatever time the Irish immigrants came to North America, they were instrumental in the rapid development of the emerging nations of the United States and what would become known as Canada. An exhaustive search of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many persons bearing the name Mahar, or one of its variants:

Mahar Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Mahar, aged 30, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1843 5
Michael Mahar, aged 40, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1847 5
Marten Mahar, who arrived in Arkansas in 1898 5
Martin Mahar, who arrived in Arkansas in 1898 5

Mahar migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mahar Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Mahar, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1814
Anne Mahar, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1840

Mahar migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Mahar Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Biddy Mahar, aged 24, a seamstress, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Agincourt" 6
Michael Mahar, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Sea Queen" 7
Biddy Mahar, aged 24, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Agincourt" in 1850 6
John Mahar, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Adelaide" 8
John Mahar, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Adelaide" 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mahar (post 1700) +

Andy Mahar (b. 1980), American professional football linebacker
Frank Edward Mahar (1878-1961), American Major League Baseball outfielder
Kevin Eric Mahar (b. 1981), American professional baseball outfielder
Sardar Ghulam Muhammad Khan Mahar (d. 1995), Pakistani politician

The Mahar 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: In periculis audax
Motto Translation: Bold in danger

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
Matheson, Robert E., Special Report on Surnames in Ireland with Notes as to Numeric Strength, Derivation, Ethnology, and Distribution. Dublin: Alexander Thom & Co., 1894. Print
"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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The AGINCOURT 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Agincourt.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SEA QUEEN 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850SeaQueen.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ADELAIDE 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/adelaide1852.shtml