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O'Leary Home Page

This is an example
of one "O'Leary" crest

History of the Family Name

Gaelic: O' Laoghaire

The surname "O'Leary" is obviously of Irish origin, meaning "Son of Leary". It originates from one of the best-known personal names from ancient Ireland, the Gaelic "Laoghaire", meaning "Herdsman" or "calf-herder".

Records identify that O'Leary is and always has been essentially a Co, Cork surname, it is believed to be traceable back to the 3rd century to Luy Maccon, king of Ireland, and founder of the Corca Laidhe tribe who occupied the extreme South West corner of County Cork. By the 12th.century it is believed that the Corca Laidhe tribe can be divided into seven sub-kings under the provincial king. One of these seven sub-divisions is called Tuath Ruis in Dolaich. Its chieftain is O'Laegaire and its territory is around the present city of Rosscarbery.

Towards the end of the 12th century around the time of the Anglo-Saxon invasion, the sept suffered the same fate as many of the Gaelic septs, in that they were driven from their original habitat. Their migration did not see them move too far - only from Corca Laidhe in the south-west of Cork to into the mountainous district of Uibh Laoghaire or Inchigeelagh Parish in the same county, a remote mountaineous territory with the lofty Kerry mountains insight to the west of them. Here they long ruled as Chiefs and possessed several castles under the paramount Muskerry MacCarthys. This area remained the home of the Clan right up to the final destruction of the Gaelic Order in 1690, and although many of the individual families emigrated to other lands, there has always remained a substantial core of O'Learys in this Parish to this day

Out of one hundred and three landowners recorded in the civil survey (1654) of the Barony of Muskerry no less that thirty four were O'Learys, while MacCarhtys numbered forty one and O'herlihys ten.

The name is today very numerous being sixty second in the list of hundred commonest names in Ireland with an estimated population figure of almost ten thousand persons. It is remarkable, what a large portion of these, as indicated by vital statistics, were born in that part of the country to which the sept traditionally belongs -no-less than eighty per cent.

In this connection it may be added that there are two places called Ballyleary in Ireland, Both in Co. Cork.

The O'Learys took a prominent part in the Irish Wars against the English Invader when these affected Munster. They suffered much in the Desmond Wars; one Mahon O'Leary was a forerunner of the 'Wild Geese' as he went to Spain with d'Aquila after Kinsale; fifteen were attained in 1642; the name is found in the 1691 attainder and also in the Irish regiments of France in the eighteenth century.

The town of Dunlaoghaire, formally Dun Leary, a suburb of Dublin, is named after Laoghaire who was King of Ireland at the time of St Patrick in the fifth century; but this of course has no connection with the surname formed some six centuries later.

BLAZON OF ARMS:
Argent, a lion passant in base gules, in the chief a ship of three masts sable, sails set proper, from the stern the flag of Saint George flotant.

MOTO:
LAIDIR ISE LEAR RIGH. "Strong is the King of the sea"

CREST:
Out of a ducal coronet or, an arm in armour enbowed, holding a sword proper, pommel and hilt or.

The crest is said to represents 'Strength on Land and on the Sea'. This may be as a result of  when the family was believed to have lived on the coast near Rosscarbery.

Name Meaning:
"Herdsman or Calf Keeper"  The original name Laoghaire is supposed to mean 'the calf-keeper'. Suffice to say that Laoghaire was a fairly common name used in various parts of Country Cork. When surnames were introduced in the 11th.c. this family took its surname from an ancestor, Laoghaire son of Ros, son of Eirc, and former chieftan from the 6th.c. who presumably was well remembered at that time. There were believed to be other Clans who took the surname O'Leary, but none of these are known to have survived.

Variations of the Name:
O'Leary, Leary, Lary, Laury, Learey, O'Laoghaire, O'Laoire

Links To Other O'Leary Home Pages:

This is the homepage for the Clan O'Leary it is well worth a visit and also includes a message board for all O'Learys

Your Irish Roots, check out this link: for all things such as: Irish Genealogy, Irish Surname & Irish Coat of Arms: Irish Genealogy research- Irish surname history and Irish Coat of Arms, Ancestor Reports, plus information on tracing your Irish Ancestors

This is the Homepage of "Tim O'Leary" a cousin I came across through the powers of the WEB. Tim has gone to great trouble to identify links to “All things O'Leary”, pages from all over the world with all kinds of interesting items. I strongly suggest after checking out the Ancestor details below that you pay Tim a visit and see all the good stuff he's found.

This is Tim’s brother Brendan O’Leary who now lives in Aberdeen Scotland.

This is the Homepage of "Dun Laoghaire "

This is the Homepage of " Katie O'Leary From Padre Island in Texas, she is obviously a very proud mum.

O'Leary Family Genealogy Forum. This is the Newsgroup for O'Leary's all over the world to share their stories.

Ancestors

1. Daniel O'Leary b. Co Tipperary, Ireland, m. Johanna Ryan, b Co Tipperary, Ireland.
Children:

2. i Patrick O'Leary b. 1834.
3. ii Mary O'Leary b. 1837.
4. iii Daniel O'Leary b. approx 1840.

Second Generation

2. Patrick O'Leary b. 1834, Co Tipperary, Ireland, Occ: Laborer, Patrick died , Eurack, Vic., Aust.. m. 1865, in Hamilton, Vic., Aust., Mary Ann Hyde, b. 1848, Tower Hill, Vic., (daughter of John Hyde and Eleanor Ingle) Occ: Servant, d. 1927, Colac, Vic., Aust..
Children:

......i Daniel O'Leary b. 1866, Woodford, Vic., Aust., d. 1868, Grassmere, Vic., Aust..
.....ii John O'Leary b. 1867, Tower Hill, Vic., d. 1868, Koroit, Vic..
....iii Johanna O'Leary b. 1869, Tower Hill, Vic., d. 1947, Colac, Vic., Aust..
....iv Patrick O'Leary b. 1871, Tower Hill, Vic., d. 1952, Colac, Vic., Aust..
.....v Ellen O'Leary b. 1874, Yarpturk, Vic., Aust., d. 1874, Yarpturk, Vic., Aust..
5. .vi Robert O'Leary, (Bob). b. 1874.
....vii Michael O'Leary b. 1875, Yarpturk, Vic., Aust., d. 1875, Yarp, Vic. (??).
....viii Margaret O'Leary b. 1875.
.....ix Thomas O'Leary b. 1876, Mount Rowan, Ballarat, Vic., d. 1877, Mount Jeffcoat, Vict, Aust.
6....x Mathias O'Leary b. 1878.
.....xi William O'Leary b. 1880, Mt Jeffcot, Vic., Aust., d. 1880, Mt Jeffcoat, Vic., Aust..
7. xii Mary O'Leary b. 1881.
8. xiii Matilda Anne O'Leary, (Till). b. 1882.
9. xiv Daniel O'Leary b. 1885.
.....xv Margaret O'Leary b. 1888, Terang, Vict, Aust, Occ: Spinster, d. 1967, Colac, Vict, Aust.
....xvi Ellen (Nellie) O'Leary b. 1890, Terang, Vic., Aust., m. , Thomas (Tom) Boyle, b. .
....xvii Rosanna O'Leary b. 1892, Terang, Vic., Aust., d. 1946, Ballarat, Vict, Aust

3. Mary O'Leary b. 1837, m. 1861, in Unknown, Thomas (Tom) Walsh, b. . Mary died 1924, Warrnambool, Vic., Aust..
Children:

......i Mary Walsh b. 1867, Woodford, Vic., Aust..
......ii James William Walsh b. 1869, Woodford, Vic., Aust., d. 1940, Warrnambool, Vic., Aust.
......iii Daniel Walsh b. 1871, d. 1949, Warrnambool, Vic., Aust.
10. iv Catherine (Kitty) Walsh b. 1872.
......v Margaret Anne Walsh d. 1876, Garvoc, Vic., Aust.

4. Daniel O'Leary b. approx 1840, Tipperary, Ireland, m. 1871, in Roman Catholic Church, Warrnambool, Hannah O'Flaherty, b. Approx 1851, County Clare, Ireland, (daughter of James O'Flaherty and Ellen McNamara) Occ: House Keeper, d. 1908, Noorat, Vic., Aust.. Daniel died 1928, Terang, Vic., Aust.
Children:

......i Ellen Agatha O'Leary b. 1872, Warrnambool, Vic., Aust., d. 1873, Warrnambool, Vic., Aust
......ii Mary O'Leary b. 1873, Warrnambool, Vic., Aust., d. 19__.
......iii Johanna O'Leary b. 1874, Woodford, Vic., Aust., m. *Unknown McKinnon.
......iv Daniel Francis O'Leary b. 1877, Panmure, Vic., Aust.
......v Bridget Agnes O'Leary b. 1878, Garvoc, Vic., Aust., m. (1) 1912, in Garvoc, Vic., Aust., Thomas ............Dwyer, m. (2) 1912, Willaim Alfred Collins, b. .
......vi John James O'Leary b. 1880, Panmure, Vic., Aust., m. 1908, in Garvoc, Colac, Vic., Aust
............Ellen Frances Hally. John died 1949, Colac, Vic., Aust.
11. vii Patrick Michael O'Leary b. 1882.
......viii *Unknown O'Leary b. 1885, Panmure, Vic., Aust., d. 1885, Panmure, Vic., Aust
......ix Margaret O'Leary b. 1888, Garvoc, Vic.. Aust., d. 1965, Ballarat, Vic., Aust.
......x James Michael O'Leary b. 1890, Terang, Vic., Aust., m. Mary Eugenie *Unknown, b. Approx ............1897, d. 15 MAY 1972, Terang, Vic., Aust.. James died 16 JUN 1970, Terang, Vic., Aust..
......xi Ellen Agatha (Agie) O'Leary b. 1893, Terang, Vic., Aust..

Third Generation

5. Robert O'Leary, (Bob). b. 1874, m. 1906, in St Joseph's, Warrnambool, Vic, Winifred (Winnie) Carey, b. 1884, (daughter of Jeremiah Carey and Elizabeth FitzPatrick) d. 1954. Robert died 1917, Beachforrest, Vic..
Children:

i Daniel O'Leary b. 1907, Warrnambool, Vic., Aust., d. 1994, Ballarat Base Hospital, Vic., Aust.
ii Elizabeth Mary (Lizzie) O'Leary b. 1908, Penshurst, Vic., Aust., m.Phillip Gerard Sullivan
iii John (Jack) O'Leary b. 1910, Penshurst, Vic., Aust., m. Doris Moloney
iv Patrick O'Leary b. 1911, Warrnambool, Vic., Aust., d. 1914, Colac, Vic., Aust
v Matthew O'Leary b. 1912, Ondit, Vic., Aust., Occ: Policeman, m. Madge Widgery,
......b. 1912, Occ: Home Duties, d. 1988, Ballarat. Matthew died 1987, Melbourne.
vi Maurice O'Leary b. 1912, Ondit, Vic., Aust., Occ: Policeman, m. 19__, Winifred Lillian Penny
......b. 1922, (daughter of Cephas Penny and Alice Christian Elizabeth Anne Jones).
......Maurice died 1985.

6. Mathias O'Leary b. 1878, Mt Jeffcot, m. 1910, in Donald, Vic., Aust., Martha Page, b. Approx 1887, (daughter of David Page and Bridget Greelith) d. 1953, Coburg, Melbourne, Vic., Aust.. Mathias died 1954, Park.
Children:

i Kathleen O'Leary b. , m. ___ Brown
ii Patrick Francis (Charlie) O'Leary b. 1911, Penshurst, Vic., Aust., m. Vivian Ross.
iii David Daniel O'Leary b. 1914, Penshurst, Vic., Aust..
iv John (Jack) O'Leary b. 1912.
v Matthew James O'Leary b. Approx 1929, m. Dawn *Unknown. Matthew died 1978,
vi Marion O'Leary b. , m. "Skeet" Burow.
vii Mary O'Leary b. , m. Maurice Keppel.
viii Robert (Bob) Kevin O'Leary b. 1918, d. 1981, Bulla, Vic., Aust..
ix Joan O'Leary m. Clive Jones.

7. Mary O'Leary b. 1881, DOOB, m. 1906, in Vic., Aust., John (Jack) Farrell,
Children:

i James (Jim) Farrell
ii Mary Farrell m.Bob Hall
iii Patrick Farrell m. (1) , Mary Morrissy, b. , Unknown, d. , Aust., m. (2) , in Unknown, Cecelia ......Mahoney, b. , Unknown.
iv Kate Farrell m. , Mick Murnane,
v Margaret Farrell, (Peg). m. , Jim Carroll,
vi John (Jack) Farrell m. , Stella Kucks,
vii Agnes (Aggie) Farrell b. , m. , Clifford (Cliff) John, b. 1918, Birregurra, Vic., Aust., (son of ......Clarence Hadley Olney and Elsie Clissold) d. 1982.
viii Thomas (Tom) Farrell
ix Nellie Farrell m. , Cyril Gorden (Gorden) Olney, b. 1921, (son of Clarence Hadley Olney and ......Elsie Clissold)
x Patricia Farrell m. , Frank Byrnes,
xi Eileen Farrell.

8. Matilda Anne O'Leary, (Till). b. 1882, Mt Jeffcot, m. 1909, in St Arnaud, Vic., Aust., Peter Gannon,
Children:

i Hazel Gannon b. .
ii Anthony (Tony) Gannon b. .
iii Doris Gannon
iv Patrick (Pat) Gannon
v Francis (Frank) Gannon

9. Daniel O'Leary b. 1885, Mt Jeffcot, m. 1913, Robina Jenkins Sproules, b. 1891, Woodford, Vic., (daughter of Dennis Sproules and Mary Jenkins) d. 1985. Daniel died 1961, Geelong West, Vic., Aust..
Children:

i James Stanley O'Leary b. 1913, Ondit, Vic., Aust., d. 1976, Geelong,
ii Patrick Joseph O'Leary b. 1915, Beeac, Vic., Aust., Occ: P.O.W, m. 19__,
......Grace McCracken, b. 1918, Aust., d. 1986. Patrick died 1974, Geelong, Vic., Aust..
.iii Denis Robert O'Leary b. 1917, Eurack, Vic., Aust. (Home Birth), Occ: Taxi Proprietor, m. 1942,
......in St Brendons Church, Coragulac Vic., Monica Doreen Cunningham, b. 1920, Carlton, Vic.,
......Aust., (daughter of Ernest Thomas Cunningham and Lavina May Suckling) Occ: Taxi
......Proprieter/home Duti. Denis died 1982, Colac, Vic., Aust..
iv Robert Leo O'Leary b. 1918, Beeac, Vic., Aust., d. 1972, Geelong, Vic., Aust..
v Kevin Mathias O'Leary b. 1919, m. , Dorothy Jean Coles, b. 1930. Kevin died 1987,
vi Daniel O'Leary b. 1922, Aust., m. 19__, in Aust., June McCook, b. 19__, Aust..
vii Johana O`Leary b. 1925, Aust., m. 19__, in Aust., Vincent Guy,
viii Vincent Leo O'Leary b. 1927, m. 1958, in St Johns, Nth Geelong, Lylia May Goggin,
......b. 1939. Vincent died 1979, Geelong, Vic., Aust..
ix John Basil (BASIL) O'Leary b. 1930, m. Pam Lynch, b. , d. 1974. John died 1985,
......Ballarat, Vic., Aust

10. Catherine (Kitty) Walsh b. 1872, Panmure, Vic., Aust., m. Pat Lourey,
Children:

i Jim Lourey
ii Dan Lourey.
iii Sylvie Lourey
iv Marie Lourey
v Bridie Lourey
vi Vera Lourey

11. Patrick Michael O'Leary b. 1882, Garvoc, Vic., Aust., m. 1912, in Garvoc, Vic., Aust., Annie Bridget Franc, b. 1891, (daughter of Michael Franc and Mary Anne Nolan) d. 1975, Colac Hospital, Vic., Aust.. Patrick died 1960, Colac, Vic., Aust
Children:

i Irene Hannah O'Leary b. 1913, Terang, Vic., Aust., m. Fred Ellis. Irene died 1966.
ii Louis Michael O'Leary b. 1914, m. Monica Mary Larkins.
iii Margaret (Meg) O'Leary b. 1916, m. Jock Innes.
iv Agnes May O'Leary b. 1917, m. Tom McNehill.
v Mary Ann O'Leary b. 1917, m. William Russell.
vi Daniel (Dan) Joseph O'Leary b. 1918, Camperdown, Vic., Aust., Occ: RTD Farmer, m. Mary ......Elizabeth Hannagan, b. 1923, (daughter of Martin (Jack) Hannagan and Ruby Jordan) d. ......1978, Colac, Vic., Aust.. Daniel died 1989, Yeodene, Vic., Aust..
vii Patrick Kevin (Kevin) O'Leary b. 1919, Camperdown, Vic., Aust., m. Betty Russell. Patrick ......died 1988.
viii Claire O'Leary b. 1921, m. John O'Brien.
ix Anne Kathleen (Nance) O'Leary b. 1923.
x John Francis (Jack) O'Leary b. 1925, Occ: PMG Technician, d. 06 APR 1979, Colac, Vic., Aust..
xi Raymond O'Leary b. 1927.


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Updated: 2nd July 2003.

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