UK surname
An Irish surname derived from Ó hAir meaning "descendant of Air" or "heir".
In the 1881 census there were 152 people recorded with the Ohair surname, ranking it #15,372 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #15,372 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Langholm and Bothwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ohair is 152 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.6%.
1881 census count
152
Ranked #15,372
Modern count
25
2016, ranked #36,324
Peak year
1881
152 bearers
Map years
2
1881 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ohair surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ohair surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 68 | #21,302 |
| 1861 | historical | 90 | #22,312 |
| 1881 | historical | 152 | #15,372 |
| 1891 | historical | 137 | #19,501 |
| 1901 | historical | 49 | #28,696 |
| 1911 | historical | 16 | #31,804 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 31 | #34,740 |
| 1999 | modern | 35 | #34,418 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 33 | #34,436 |
| 2002 | modern | 33 | #34,717 |
| 2003 | modern | 32 | #34,862 |
| 2004 | modern | 33 | #34,947 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 25 | #36,006 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 22 | #36,477 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 24 | #36,364 |
| 2016 | modern | 25 | #36,324 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Langholm, Bothwell, Govan Combination and Cardross. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Monkland | Lanark |
| 2 | Langholm | Dumfries |
| 3 | Bothwell | Lanark |
| 4 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 5 | Cardross | Dunbarton |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ohair surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ohair, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Ohair surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ohair household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Ohair is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ohair is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ohair, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname OHAIR is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic words "O" meaning "descendant of" and "hAir" meaning "keeper of a crannog". A crannog was an ancient Gaelic Irish dwelling, typically a fortified wooden structure built on an artificial island in a lake or river. The name first emerged in County Sligo, Ireland during the 11th century.
The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Annals of Ulster, a medieval Irish chronicle which mentions an "O'hAir" in the year 1095. It is likely that the O'hAir clan were historical keepers and defenders of a crannog in County Sligo during this time period.
In the 14th century, the Pipe Rolls of Cloyne, a collection of medieval accounts from the diocese of Cloyne in County Cork, Ireland, listed a "Dermot O'Hayer" who was likely a descendant of the original O'hAir clan. This spelling variation highlights the development of the name over time.
A notable bearer of the name was Randal O'Hair, an Irish soldier who fought alongside the English forces during the Tudor conquest of Ireland in the late 16th century. He was born around 1550 in County Sligo.
Another historical figure was Conor O'Hair, a 17th century Irish poet and harpist from County Sligo, known for his compositions in the ancient Gaelic tradition. He lived from approximately 1615 to 1685.
In the 19th century, James O'Hair was a prominent Irish businessman and landowner from County Sligo. Born in 1810, he established a successful shipping company and was involved in local politics.
Mary O'Hair, an Irish immigrant to the United States, was a noted educator and advocate for women's rights in the late 19th century. She was born in County Sligo in 1845 and later settled in New York City, where she founded a school for underprivileged children.
Finally, Patrick O'Hair was an Irish-born American soldier who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Born in County Sligo in 1838, he fought in several major battles and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ohair surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 36 Ohairs recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.54x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 36 | 12.54x |
| Renfrewshire | 19 | 27.62x |
| Cumberland | 16 | 20.94x |
| Ayrshire | 7 | 10.54x |
| Durham | 7 | 2.65x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.68x |
| Dunbartonshire | 1 | 4.19x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 1 | 7.78x |
| Peeblesshire | 1 | 23.98x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 3.06x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abbey in Renfrewshire leads with 17 Ohairs recorded in 1881 and an index of 162.06x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Abbey | 17 | 162.06x |
| Bothwell | 11 | 141.39x |
| Glasgow | 8 | 15.70x |
| New Monkland | 8 | 94.34x |
| Seaton | 8 | 898.88x |
| Gateshead | 7 | 35.41x |
| Kilmarnock | 7 | 88.50x |
| Parton | 7 | 1555.56x |
| Blantyre | 3 | 100.33x |
| Govan | 3 | 4.23x |
| Barony | 2 | 2.75x |
| East Greenock | 2 | 30.82x |
| Campsie | 1 | 55.56x |
| Crossmichael | 1 | 243.90x |
| Dumbarton | 1 | 30.12x |
| Edinburgh St Johns | 1 | 133.33x |
| Innerleithen | 1 | 90.09x |
| Inveresk | 1 | 31.06x |
| Old Monkland | 1 | 8.78x |
| Whitehaven | 1 | 24.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ohair surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ohair surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Ohair households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cooper | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Lab In Iron Wks | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Sailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 152 people were recorded with the Ohair surname. That placed it at #15,372 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Ohair a modern rank of #36,324.
An Irish surname derived from Ó hAir meaning "descendant of Air" or "heir".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ohair bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.