NameCensus.

UK surname

Ohare

Derived from the Irish Gaelic "Ó hÍr," meaning "descendant of Ír," a personal name meaning "abundant" or "prosperous."

In the 1881 census there were 1,356 people recorded with the Ohare surname, ranking it #3,022 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,726, ranked #1,825, up from #3,022 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Liverpool and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Knowsley, Gartcosh and Marnock and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ohare is 3,838 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 174.8%.

1881 census count

1,356

Ranked #3,022

Modern count

3,726

2016, ranked #1,825

Peak year

2010

3,838 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ohare had 1,356 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,022 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,726 in 2016, ranked #1,825.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,614 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ohare surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ohare surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ohare 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 396 #6,083
1861 historical 443 #5,835
1881 historical 1,356 #3,022
1891 historical 1,375 #3,159
1901 historical 1,614 #3,207
1911 historical 1,183 #3,962
1997 modern 3,542 #1,827
1998 modern 3,605 #1,878
1999 modern 3,627 #1,874
2000 modern 3,572 #1,899
2001 modern 3,494 #1,896
2002 modern 3,603 #1,881
2003 modern 3,520 #1,880
2004 modern 3,547 #1,864
2005 modern 3,564 #1,837
2006 modern 3,509 #1,863
2007 modern 3,596 #1,834
2008 modern 3,712 #1,786
2009 modern 3,770 #1,808
2010 modern 3,838 #1,810
2011 modern 3,766 #1,824
2012 modern 3,658 #1,842
2013 modern 3,731 #1,841
2014 modern 3,762 #1,838
2015 modern 3,736 #1,822
2016 modern 3,726 #1,825

Geography

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Where Ohares are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Liverpool, Glasgow, West Derby and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Knowsley, Gartcosh and Marnock, Wirral, Fallin and Hillpark. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Liverpool Lancashire
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Knowsley 001 Knowsley
2 Gartcosh and Marnock North Lanarkshire
3 Wirral 016 Wirral
4 Fallin Stirling
5 Hillpark Stirling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ohare

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ohare

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ohare, 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 Ohare surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ohare 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, Ohare 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

Ohare is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ohare 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 Ohare 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 Ohare, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ohare

The surname OHARE originates from Ireland, with roots tracing back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic words "Ó hAirí," which translates to "descendant of Airí." This suggests that the name may have been initially borne by a member of a prominent Irish family or clan.

OHARE is a variant spelling of the more common Irish surname O'Hara or O'Haire. The prefix "O" is a remnant of the Gaelic "Ó," indicating "grandson" or "descendant of." The name was traditionally found in counties such as Sligo, Mayo, and Galway, located in the western regions of Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the OHARE surname can be found in the "Annals of the Four Masters," a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. It references an individual named Muircheartach O'hAirí, who was described as a learned scholar and poet in the year 1384.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the OHARE name was Eoghan OHARE (c. 1520 - 1590), a prominent Irish soldier and leader of the O'Hara clan. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the English and Irish during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, a notable OHARE was Felim OHARE (c. 1600 - 1653), who served as a commander in the Irish Confederate forces. He was later captured and executed by the English for his role in the uprising.

Another notable individual was Jeremiah OHARE (1772 - 1826), an Irish-born American naval officer who served in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France and the War of 1812. He achieved the rank of Captain and received recognition for his bravery and leadership.

In the realm of literature, Katharine O'Hare (1877 - 1965), an American novelist and playwright, gained recognition for her works depicting Irish-American life and culture in the early 20th century.

While the OHARE surname has undergone various spellings and variations over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to ancient Irish lineages and the rich cultural heritage of Ireland's western regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ohare families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ohare 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 264 Ohares recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.10x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 264 3.10x
Lanarkshire 76 3.28x
Durham 56 2.63x
Cheshire 47 2.97x
Wigtownshire 42 44.12x
Cumberland 29 4.70x
Yorkshire 25 0.35x
Northumberland 22 2.06x
Renfrewshire 18 3.24x
Dunbartonshire 16 8.30x
Warwickshire 16 0.88x
Aberdeenshire 14 2.11x
Middlesex 11 0.15x
Ayrshire 10 1.86x
Stirlingshire 10 3.78x
Midlothian 9 0.94x
Montgomeryshire 8 4.87x
Angus 6 0.90x
Surrey 6 0.17x
Inverness-shire 5 2.34x
West Lothian 5 4.63x
Dumfriesshire 4 2.53x
Glamorgan 3 0.24x
Kent 3 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.31x
Perthshire 3 0.93x
Shropshire 3 0.48x
Staffordshire 3 0.12x
Denbighshire 2 0.74x
Flintshire 2 1.04x
Gloucestershire 2 0.14x
Herefordshire 2 0.68x
Isle of Man 2 1.50x
Peeblesshire 2 5.93x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.23x
Cornwall 1 0.12x
Essex 1 0.07x
Leicestershire 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 1.17x
Wiltshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 110 Ohares recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.29x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 110 21.29x
Birkenhead 33 26.16x
West Derby 26 10.45x
Gateshead 25 15.65x
Glasgow 19 4.61x
Manchester 18 4.70x
Barony 16 2.73x
Bothwell 16 25.45x
Paisley High Church 16 36.17x
Newhills 13 95.59x
Barrow In Furness 12 10.37x
Cardross 12 51.88x
Widnes 12 19.56x
Kirkdale 11 7.69x
Kirkinner 11 279.90x
Aston 10 2.01x
Govan 10 1.74x
Morpeth 9 71.77x
Lower Bebington 8 85.11x
Pool 8 64.57x
St Pancras London 8 1.39x
Toxteth Park 8 2.78x
Whithorn 8 110.34x
Wingate 8 54.72x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 6 23.26x
Blantyre 6 24.86x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 8.88x
Dearham 6 73.71x
Inch 6 64.66x
Longbenton 6 13.28x
Slamannan 6 41.44x
Stoneykirk 6 88.11x
Winlaton 6 29.33x
Workington 6 16.98x
Ardwick 5 6.52x
Bermondsey 5 2.34x
Carrington 5 333.33x
Egremont 5 33.97x
Kirkmaiden 5 82.92x
Liff Benvie 5 4.96x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 5 35.64x
Portree 5 63.13x
Royton 5 19.22x
Uphall 5 42.12x
Whitehaven 5 15.20x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 6.25x
Bonhill 4 12.93x
Clifton In Halifax 4 94.12x
Dalry 4 15.84x
Everton 4 1.48x
Hamilton 4 6.19x
Kilmarnock 4 6.26x
Langholm 4 35.15x
Seaton 4 55.56x
St Giles 4 30.05x
Beswick 3 13.79x
Birmingham 3 0.50x
Cheetham 3 4.73x
Dunipace 3 64.79x
Ford 3 46.95x
Heworth 3 7.14x
Leswalt 3 46.01x
Litherland 3 16.86x
Margate St John Baptist 3 6.70x
Nantwich 3 16.31x
North Meols 3 3.60x
Oswestry Town 3 15.13x
Snenton 3 7.90x
Wakefield 3 5.50x
Walton On Hill 3 6.51x
Wigan 3 2.52x
Bishop Auckland 2 6.99x
Cleator 2 7.79x
Hereford All Sts 2 14.85x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 3.14x
Onchan 2 5.22x
Poplar London 2 1.48x
Sandal Magna 2 19.03x
Sutton 2 7.01x
Woolaston 2 93.90x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 54
James 41
Patrick 24
Thomas 14
Peter 13
Henry 12
William 12
Edward 10
Michael 9
Arthur 8
Daniel 8
Joseph 7
Hugh 5
Francis 4
Robert 4
Stephen 4
Andrew 3
Edwd. 3
George 3
David 2
Lawrence 2
Matthew 2
Michel 2
Owen 2
Pat 2
Samuel 2
Anthony 1
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Dennis 1
Eugen 1
Felix 1
Fred.J. 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Hy. 1
Josh. 1
Martin 1
Mary 1
Micheal 1
Michell 1
Neil 1
Nicholas 1
Patk. 1
Patric 1
Philip 1
Roger 1
Saml. 1

FAQ

Ohare surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ohare surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,356 people were recorded with the Ohare surname. That placed it at #3,022 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ohare surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,726 in 2016. That gives Ohare a modern rank of #1,825.

What does the Ohare surname mean?

Derived from the Irish Gaelic "Ó hÍr," meaning "descendant of Ír," a personal name meaning "abundant" or "prosperous."

What does the Ohare map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ohare 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.