O'Leary Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does O'Leary mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the O'Leary name
O'Leary comes from Ó Laoghaire, "descendant of Laoghaire", a personal name meaning "calf herder". The family was first based on the coast of south-west Cork, near Rosscarbery, and later moved inland to Inchigeelagh in the barony of Muskerry. The name is still most common in County Cork.
Our historical archives hold much more on the O'Leary name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the O'Leary name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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O'Leary name FAQ
What does the O'Leary name mean?
Descendant of Laoghaire ("calf herder"). Common variants include Leary, O'Laoghaire, Lary.
Where does the O'Leary surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a O'Leary coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single O'Leary crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized O'Leary coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.