Map of Ireland showing where the O'Leary arms are recorded
The O'Leary arms were recorded in Cork, c. 1637.
Cork was the largest county in Ireland, with a great harbour and a wide farming hinterland. Both English settlers and older Irish families held land there, and holding land is what brought a family into the records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the O'Leary arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cork.
Origin & History of the O'Leary Family in Ireland
The O’Leary family name originates from the Gaelic phrase Ó Laoghaire, which translates to descendant of Laoghaire. The name Laoghaire itself is derived from the words for calf and herder, suggesting that the family’s earliest ancestors were likely associated with cattle farming or pastoral life in ancient Ireland. By the early seventeenth century, the O’Learys were well established in County Cork, particularly within the barony of Muskerry. They held a significant position in the local social structure as a sept, which was a traditional Irish kinship group. Historical records confirm their presence in this region by 1637, where they maintained strong ties to the land and their Gaelic heritage despite the political changes occurring across Ireland at that time.
O'Leary Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Ó Laoghaire
Descendant of the calf herder
This name
O'LearyDerived from the Gaelic term for a keeper of calves or livestock.
also spelled
Leary
Olearie
Related arms
Learyvariant spelling
O'Learievariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
O’Hart, John. Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation. 1892
National Archives of Ireland. Civil Survey of the County of Cork. 1654–1656
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greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
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greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
