HANRAN
from Limerick to New South Wales

Hanran (Hanrahan) Origins

Several interesting interpretations of the name’s origin, together with some representative examples, follow:

• Hanrahan, Irish: Anglicised form of Gael Ó hAnradháin, descendant of Anradhán, a personal name from a diminutive of ánrad(h) hero, warrior, champion, a title denoting the nobleman next in rank to the king in medieval Ireland. The title was also used to denote court poets of the second rank. Vars: O’Hanrahan, O’Harragan, O’Horogan, O’Hor(I)gan, O’Howrane, (O’)Hourihan, O’Hourigan, Hourihan(e), Horrigan, Horkan, Haran, Hawrane. [Source: Patrick Hanks & Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames, (Oxford 1988)]

• (O) Hanrahan, Ó hAnracháin. Woulfe makes this a variant of Ó hAnradháin (see Hourahan). The O’Hourahans are a notable Dalcassian sept. The name is spelt Handrahan in some south Tipperary districts. [Source: Edward MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland, (Suffolk 1989)]

• Hanrahan families are still found principally in Munster, in Co Limerick, and in lesser numbers in the adjacent counties of Clare, Kerry, Cork and Tipperary. They have their descent from the Ó hAnracháin or Ó hAnradháin sept whose homeland was in the south of Co Clare. [Source: Brian de Breffney, Irish Family Names, (Essex 1986)].

And now to Introduce the Irish-Australian Connection

beginning with the descendants of

Michael and Ellen Hanrahan

Limerick, Ireland

Dia dhuit! That's conveying a WELCOME to Ray's genealogy website in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Our objective was to "find" and record the descendants of Ellen and Michael HANRAHAN, of County Limerick, Ireland. If you believe you are related,  we would very much like to hear from you. Please send us an email with your family names and a note as to how you think they are related. We can then add more leaves, twigs and branches to the HANRAN family tree and help make it grow. Hanran is the Australian-abbreviated spelling used by this family after arrival in New South Wales.

By way of background: According to the Griffiths Valuation of Tenements in the parish of St John, Limerick, the Hanrahan and Hayes families were close neighbours—both are listed as tenants in Irishtown Townland. Michael Hanrahan, leased from Joseph Seward, his landlord, a house and yard with a total net annual value of £1 in Seward’s Lane, off Currey’s Lane; John Hayes leased from his landlord, Michael O’Donovan, a house and yard with a similar value in O’Donovan’s Lane, also off Currey’s Lane. Interestingly, Michael's son, Francis, later married John Hayes' daughter, Bridget.

Click here to view a location map (when the page opens, click on <map>, then use arrow keys to enlarge, move the bar (top RH corner) to view as a hybrid (contemporary superimposed over a modern map) or the satellite image.

We hope you enjoy your visit and wish you well. Slán agus beannacht.

Yours in genealogy

Ray