Caraher, O'Carragher, Mac Carehir, Kerracher
Although it is not among the 200 most common Irish names,Clan O'Carragher is one of the Oldest,
with surname and title recorded 881A.D.in the Ceneal nEoghain tribal grouping,
originating with Fregaille,
historical monarch of Ireland, 778A.D., and his grandson Ferchair.
An outline history for O'Carragher is the sole pulblished reference the origin and history of the this Clan,
including variants or the name(s) to date. Sources are given.
It is available in the USA from the
Caraher Family Historical Society
c/o Mrs. Alexandra R. Leishman
643 Fleming Road
Hinesville, GA 31313 USA
The Irish Surname Caraher is a variant of the names (Mac)(O)
Carragher and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Fhearchair.
The prefixes "Mac" and "O" signifies "son of" or
"descendant" and indicates the patronymic origin of the
surname, while the second element of the surname, "Fhearchair"
, means simply "man dear". The principal territory
of where the surname was most prevelant in
Medieval Ireland has been given as the area around the Armagh-
Louth-Monoghan border near Ulster(a province in the North
of Ireland). It has often been associated with Scotland as a
variant or the Scottish name Farquhar, but MacFhearchair
is indigenous to Ireland. The frequence of the surname in the
northern part Ireland is substantiated by the Birth
Indexes of 1890 which records the existence of the surname
in Ulster only. The surname was recorded in the District of New-
townhamilton in the Union of Castleblanyney in Co. Armagh,
however, the surname does not appear to have been a very common
name in the nineteenth century as there are less than five
registered entries of the surname among these lists. The prefixes
"Mac" and "O", which origianlly accompanied this name, have
largely dissappeared. In general, Gaelic prefixes tended to
be discarded as early as the middle of the seventeenth century
during the time of the Gaelic and Catholic submergence and
were never resumed. Some think it was because the prefixes made
reference to the pegan and druid relegions. Early
references to the surname date back to the seventeeth century
and at Dysart, Co. Louth, the name is recorded as MacCarehir in
1616. Another early instance of the surname is one
MacCarraher, who is recorded inthe Hearth Money Rolls for Co.
Monaghan of 1663 in the Barony of Dartree. Variants of surname
include Carragher and Kerracher.
Wish you Hope, Health, and Happiness--Claddagh~!!
Love, PurpleRoses
FAMILY
Wish Irish Ancestors that live across the miles,
this day brings us closer, everyone wearin the green,
makes us smiles~!!
ERIN GO BRAGH~!!
Loads of Irish Pages to LOOK at~!!
Joan's UK Journal (2pages)
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Mar sin leat~!!
Bye for Now~!!
ecaraher@cox.net
