NameCensus.

UK surname

Ohara

A Japanese surname meaning "small plain" or "little field," likely referring to a geographic feature or place of origin.

In the 1881 census there were 2,809 people recorded with the Ohara surname, ranking it #1,589 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,647, ranked #871, up from #1,589 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Glasgow and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Keppochhill, Glenwood South and Possil Park.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ohara is 7,900 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 172.2%.

1881 census count

2,809

Ranked #1,589

Modern count

7,647

2016, ranked #871

Peak year

2010

7,900 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ohara had 2,809 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,589 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,647 in 2016, ranked #871.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,535 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ohara surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ohara surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ohara surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ohara over time

The 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 1,015 #2,754
1861 historical 1,194 #2,378
1881 historical 2,809 #1,589
1891 historical 2,514 #1,882
1901 historical 3,535 #1,579
1911 historical 2,510 #2,046
1997 modern 7,206 #897
1998 modern 7,413 #912
1999 modern 7,476 #910
2000 modern 7,552 #893
2001 modern 7,424 #884
2002 modern 7,531 #891
2003 modern 7,366 #889
2004 modern 7,301 #897
2005 modern 7,250 #893
2006 modern 7,190 #898
2007 modern 7,379 #888
2008 modern 7,480 #883
2009 modern 7,681 #881
2010 modern 7,900 #874
2011 modern 7,730 #879
2012 modern 7,513 #886
2013 modern 7,670 #880
2014 modern 7,762 #877
2015 modern 7,656 #877
2016 modern 7,647 #871

Geography

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Where Oharas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bradford and Keighley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Keppochhill, Glenwood South, Possil Park, Bathgate West and Wyndford. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Glasgow Lanark
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Keppochhill Glasgow City
2 Glenwood South Glasgow City
3 Possil Park Glasgow City
4 Bathgate West West Lothian
5 Wyndford Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ohara

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ohara surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ohara

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ohara, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Ohara surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ohara household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ohara is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ohara is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ohara falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ohara is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ohara, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ohara

The surname O'Hara is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Ó hEadhra, meaning "descendant of Eadhra". The name Eadhra itself is a personal name derived from the old Irish word "eidhre", meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous".

The O'Hara clan originated in County Sligo, located in the northwestern part of Ireland. They were a prominent family in the region, with their ancestral homeland centered around the baronies of Leyny and Coolavin. The name first appeared in historical records as early as the 11th century.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the O'Hara name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1235, it records the death of Donnell O'Hara, described as the "chief of Leyny".

In the 14th century, the O'Hara clan rose to prominence under the leadership of Teige O'Hara, who was appointed as the Lord of Leyny by the English Crown. His descendants continued to hold significant power and influence in the region for several centuries.

Notable individuals with the O'Hara surname throughout history include:

1. Jeffery O'Hara (c. 1640 - 1695), an Irish soldier who served in the Jacobite armies during the Williamite War in Ireland. 2. Kane O'Hara (1714 - 1782), an Irish dramatist and actor, best known for his play "Midas". 3. Charles O'Hara (1740 - 1819), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and was present at the Surrender at Yorktown. 4. Theodore O'Hara (1820 - 1867), an American poet and soldier who wrote the famous poem "The Bivouac of the Dead". 5. John O'Hara (1905 - 1970), an American novelist and short story writer, known for works like "Appointment in Samarra" and "Butterfield 8".

While the O'Hara name has its roots in County Sligo, it has since spread across Ireland and beyond, with notable bearers of the surname found in various parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ohara families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ohara surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 399 Oharas recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.00x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 399 2.00x
Yorkshire 335 2.01x
Lanarkshire 328 6.04x
Durham 72 1.44x
Middlesex 72 0.43x
Renfrewshire 55 4.23x
Northumberland 41 1.64x
Cheshire 35 0.94x
Midlothian 33 1.47x
Kent 32 0.56x
Staffordshire 28 0.49x
Ayrshire 23 1.83x
Cumberland 20 1.38x
Nottinghamshire 20 0.88x
Warwickshire 20 0.47x
Hampshire 19 0.55x
Argyllshire 16 3.42x
Surrey 15 0.18x
Lincolnshire 13 0.48x
Dunbartonshire 12 2.66x
Kirkcudbrightshire 11 4.53x
Somerset 11 0.41x
Bedfordshire 10 1.15x
Shropshire 10 0.69x
West Lothian 10 3.96x
Monmouthshire 9 0.74x
East Lothian 8 3.60x
Gloucestershire 7 0.21x
Peeblesshire 6 7.60x
Angus 5 0.32x
Leicestershire 5 0.27x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.94x
Royal Navy 5 2.50x
Selkirkshire 5 3.29x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.19x
Essex 3 0.09x
Denbighshire 2 0.32x
Devon 2 0.06x
Dorset 2 0.18x
Flintshire 2 0.44x
Glamorgan 2 0.07x
Isle of Man 2 0.64x
Perthshire 2 0.27x
Berkshire 1 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.09x
Derbyshire 1 0.04x
Sussex 1 0.04x
Westmorland 1 0.27x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Keighley in Yorkshire leads with 117 Oharas recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.98x.

Place Total Index
Keighley 117 65.98x
Glasgow 86 8.92x
Govan 72 5.36x
Liverpool 67 5.54x
Barony 63 4.58x
Leeds 31 3.30x
Bradford 30 7.45x
Burnley 30 17.88x
Horton In Bradford 23 8.85x
Toxteth Park 22 3.26x
Great Bolton 21 7.96x
Blackburn 20 3.77x
Bothwell 18 12.22x
Nottingham St Mary 17 2.90x
West Derby 17 2.92x
Bexley 16 31.60x
Campbeltown 16 28.38x
Oldham 16 2.49x
Aldershot 15 13.01x
Barnard Castle 15 60.75x
Bowling 15 9.10x
Halifax 15 6.14x
Haslingden 15 18.18x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 15 6.93x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 15 10.06x
Rutherglen 15 18.83x
Birmingham 14 0.99x
Chorlton On Medlock 14 4.42x
Boston 13 15.96x
Cambusnethan 13 10.78x
Spotland 13 5.87x
St Martin In Fields 13 12.93x
Westgate 13 8.40x
Wolverhampton 13 2.98x
Manchester 12 1.34x
Nantwich 12 27.87x
Old Monkland 12 5.57x
Stafford St Mary 12 14.96x
Stockton On Tees 12 4.98x
Salford 11 1.88x
Shipley 11 12.74x
South Leith 11 4.35x
Wardleworth 11 9.66x
York St George 11 83.91x
Hamilton 10 6.60x
Hunslet 10 3.85x
Kirkmabreck 10 94.07x
Whitchurch 10 35.52x
Bedwellty 9 4.20x
Brinnington 9 26.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 0.99x
Gillingham 9 7.62x
Kilbarchan 9 22.77x
Luton 9 5.98x
Maryhill 9 8.47x
Newcastle On Tyne St 9 6.95x
West Greenock 9 3.85x
Abbey 8 4.03x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 1.84x
Caldewgate 8 10.10x
Chorley 8 7.16x
Clevedon 8 28.47x
Kirkdale 8 2.39x
Port Glasgow 8 12.72x
St Cuthbert W O 8 11.36x
Wigan 8 2.87x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 6.38x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 2.07x
Everton 7 1.10x
Habergham Eaves 7 3.84x
Middlestone 7 69.86x
Neilston 7 10.72x
Northowram 7 6.00x
Poplar London 7 2.21x
Preston 7 1.31x
St Anne Soho London 7 7.30x
Worsley 7 5.70x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 6.15x
Tarbolton 6 29.01x
Thornaby 6 9.65x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ohara surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 143
Margaret 47
Catherine 40
Ellen 38
Bridget 28
Sarah 27
Ann 21
Elizabeth 20
Jane 20
Annie 15
Agnes 14
Rose 14
Anne 10
Eliza 10
Emma 9
Kate 9
Alice 7
Hannah 6
Catharine 5
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Julia 4
Lucy 4
Margt. 4
Martha 4
Maggie 3
Margarett 3
Maria 3
Winifred 3
Caroline 2
Emily 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Johannah 2
Katherine 2
Lilley 2
Lydia 2
Margret 2
Nancy 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Cath 1
Deborah 1
Edith 1
Elen 1
Elizth. 1
Irence 1
Jenny 1
Joan 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ohara surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 114
James 77
Michael 46
Patrick 42
Thomas 42
William 37
Edward 23
Joseph 14
Peter 14
Robert 14
Henry 12
Charles 10
Daniel 10
Francis 9
George 9
Martin 7
Andrew 6
Dennis 6
Frank 5
Arthur 4
Bernard 4
Frederick 4
Hugh 4
Richard 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Austin 3
Edwd. 3
Lawrence 3
Luke 3
Owen 3
Cornelius 2
David 2
Herbert 2
Jonah 2
Pat 2
Philip 2
Walter 2
Willie 2
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Bryne 1
Burinet 1
C. 1
Edmond 1
Elias 1
Ellis 1
Farrell 1
Felix 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ohara surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ohara surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,809 people were recorded with the Ohara surname. That placed it at #1,589 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ohara surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,647 in 2016. That gives Ohara a modern rank of #871.

What does the Ohara surname mean?

A Japanese surname meaning "small plain" or "little field," likely referring to a geographic feature or place of origin.

What does the Ohara map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ohara bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.