Contents [hide]

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

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Sources

Mohr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Mohr

What does the name Mohr mean?

There are several distinct sources of the Mohr surname in Ireland. Most of the name find their roots with the Anglo-Norman "Strongbow" invasion of the 12th century. Many of these became de Mora. Others derived from the Old Irish "O Mordha," from the word "mordha," meaning "stately," or "noble." 1 The English surname Mohr is derived from the personal name "More," which is itself derived from the Old French word "maur," meaning "Moor."

Early Origins of the Mohr family

The surname Mohr was first found in Munster, where the name was firmly established shortly after the Strongbow invasion of Ireland in 1172. 1

'Aimergin Ua Mordha, A.D. 1026.' O'Mordha is Anglicised O'More and More, which has now usually become Moore, The O'Mores were a powerful sept in Ireland." 2

"Donal Mór (d. 1194), son of Turlough, was the last King of North Munster. " 3 The Guinness or MacGunness family claim descent from Cionga, son of Rory Mór and had a similar coat of arms complete with a gold lion on a green shield denoting their heritage.

Moore or O'Moore were the hereditary Lords of Leix. Of this branch was Charles O'More who had a younger brother named Rory Oge who in 1587 was slain by the English.

The Moores of Rahinduffe, Queen's County are a branch of this previous family. Of note was Anthony O'Moore who joined with the O'Neills and defeated the English army in 1598. 3

Early History of the Mohr family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mohr research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1557, 1600, 1620, 1621, 1627, 1641, 1655, 1700, 1703, 1706, 1729, 1730, 1767, 1791, 1795, 1798, 1799 and 1822 are included under the topic Early Mohr History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mohr Spelling Variations

Church officials and medieval scribes often spelled early surnames as they sounded. This practice often resulted in many spelling variations of even a single name. Early versions of the name Mohr included: Moore, More, Moor, O'More, Moores, Mores, McMore, Moire, Moare, MacMoore, McMoir, Moir, Moors, O'Moore, O'Moire, McMoare, MacMoir, MacMoare, Mooer and many more.

Early Notables of the Mohr family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was Rory O'More (d. 1557) and his son Rory Og O'More, who were both Irish leaders in the wars against the English (Tudor) Kings; Rory O'Moore (Roger O'Moore, O'More, Sir Roger Moore) (c.1600-1655), an Irish landowner of ancient lineage, most notable for being one of the four principal organizers of the Irish Rebellion of 1641; Rory "Roger" More...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mohr Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mohr Ranking

In the United States, the name Mohr is the 1,937^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 4 However, in France, the name Mohr is ranked the 6,012^nd most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 5

Mohr migration to the United States +

In the mid-19th century, Ireland experienced one of the worst periods in its entire history. During this decade in order to ease the pressure of the soil, which was actually depleted by the effects of the previous years' grain crops, landowners forced tenant farmers and peasants onto tiny plots of land that barely provided the basic sustenance a family required. Conditions were worsened, though, by the population of the country, which was growing fast to roughly eight million. So when the Great Potato Famine of the mid-1840s hit, starvation and diseases decimated the population. Thousands of Irish families left the country for British North America and the United States. The new immigrants were often accommodated either in the opening western frontiers or as cheap unskilled labor in the established centers. In early passenger and immigration lists there are many immigrants bearing the name Mohr:

Mohr Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Christoph, Philip, and Henrich Mohr, all of whom, who arrived in New York City in 1709
Augustyn Mohr, who landed in New York in 1709 6
Heinrich Mohr, who landed in New York in 1709 6
Jonas Mohr, who arrived in New York in 1709 6
Johannes Mohr, who arrived in New York, NY in 1709 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mohr Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Konrad Mohr, who arrived in America in 1831 6
Joseph Mohr, who landed in Missouri in 1841 6
Martin Mohr, who arrived in Galveston, Tex in 1845 6
Mr. Joh. Mohr, (Moor), German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Auguste Meline"
Mrs. Catherina Mohr, (Moor, nee Schmidt) German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Auguste Meline"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mohr migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Mohr Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Mohr, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Telegraph" in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Mohr (post 1700) +

Wilhelm Mohr (1917-2016), Norwegian aviation officer awarded the War Cross with sword, the British Distinguished Flying Cross, and the American Legion of Merit
Major-General Dwight Harold Mohr (1886-1956), American Commanding Officer Maryland State Guard (1941) 7
Gerald Mohr (1914-1968), American radio, film and television character actor
Chris Mohr (b. 1966), American football punter
Charles Theodor Mohr, German born American pharmacist and botanist
Howard R. Mohr (b. 1921), American politician, Mayor of Forest Park, Illinois, 1963-67; Member of Illinois State Senate 5th District, 1967-77 8
George C. Mohr, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 1912 8
George Mohr, American politician, U.S. Consul in Dresden, 1843-50 8
Emily W. Mohr, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Stratford, 1926 8
Edward Mohr, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Wayne County, 1960 8
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Mohr 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: Conlan-a-bu
Motto Translation: Conlan forever.

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
Moore, A.W., Manx Names. London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1906. Print
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Dwight Mohr. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Mohr/Dwight_Harold/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html