Surname Houlihan - Meaning and Origin
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Houlihan: What does the surname Houlihan mean?
Houlihan is an Irish surname of Gaelic origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "Ó hUallacháin", which roughly translates to "descendant of Uallachán". The name is made of two parts: 'O,' which means 'grandson of' or 'descendant of,' and 'Uallachán,' a nickname relating to 'pride' or 'vanity'. This would suggest the name originally referred to a descendant of a proud or boastful person. As with many other old Gaelic names, it has been anglicized over time. Variations of the name include O'Houlihan, Howlin, and Holligan, among others. The name is particularly associated with the western counties of Ireland, such as Clare and Galway. Notably, the name was traditionally held by poets and historians who served Irish chiefs.
Order DNA origin analysisHoulihan: Where does the name Houlihan come from?
The last name Houlihan is most prevalent in English-speaking countries today. In the United States, the last name is particularly common in the state of Massachusetts, with the highest concentration being located in its capital, Boston. Other areas where this surname is heavily present include Missouri, New York, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and California.
Outside the United States, Houlihan is commonly reported in Canada, Ireland, Australia, and the UK. The last name Houlihan is more densely concentrated in the smaller provinces of Canada, such as Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, and it is also common in areas of the country that were once populated with immigrants from England, Scotland, and Wales.
Ireland is another country where this surname is widely reported. It is most often found in counties like Kerry, Cork, Limerick, Dublin, and Tipperary. In Australia, Houlihan is mostly found in the states of New South Wales and Queensland. Meanwhile, in the UK, this surname mainly appears in Scotland and in urban centers, such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester.
Overall, the last name Houlihan is quite widespread throughout the English-speaking world today; with its origins being in various countries of Europe, it has spread far beyond its original homelands and has come to be found in various parts of the Americas, Australasia, and the British Isles alike.
Variations of the surname Houlihan
The surname Houlihan has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Examples of the variant spellings of Houlihan include Hoolihan, Holihan, O’Houlihan, O’Hoolihan, O’Holihan, Hoolihane, Holihane, Hollihan, Hollihane, and Hulihan.
The surname Houlihan originated in County Clare in Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic name “Ó hUallacháin”, which translates to “descendant of Uallachan.” The root of the name is the given name “Uallachan”, which means “rebel”. It is believed that the name was given to someone who rebelled against oppressive landlords.
Houlihan is also an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Mac Huallachain. This surname originated with the descendants of the ancient kings of Ui Loingsigh, or Ui Lughaidh, which is a tribe located in County Clare. The variant spellings of this name include MacHoulihan, MacCoulihan, MacWoullihan, and MacWhofllihan.
The surname Houlihan is also an anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó hUallacháin, which is descended from the Clan Uoi (or Clan O’Houlihan). Variations of this surname include Ó hUallacháin, Ó hUallacháin, O'Hoolihan, O'Hullihan, and Hullihan.
Overall, the surname Houlihan has a great deal of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. This includes variants of the original Gaelic surname, as well as anglicized versions of Gaelic names. It is important to note that many individuals, both in the past and present, have adopted variants of this name in order to identify with a particular branch of the family or to better reflect one’s ethnicity.
Famous people with the name Houlihan
- Houli Han, Actor and Musician
- Eamon Houlihan, Australian field hockey player
- Christine Houlihan, American professional golfer
- Ric Houlihan, American former NFL offensive tackle/guard
- Michael Houlihan, Irish former professional footballer
- Bob Houlihan, American former Major League Baseball player
- Charley Houlihan, American former relief pitcher
- George Houlihan, Australian former professional footballer
- Bobby Houlihan, English former professional footballer
- Larry Houlihan, American former Major League Baseball player
- Pat Houlihan, American independent wrestler
- Ray Houlihan, American former Major League Baseball third baseman
- Mike Houlihan, American Character Actor
- Margaret Houlihan, Fictional character from M*A*S*H
- John Houlihan, American actor, cinematographer, and producer
- James Houlihan, American attorney and politician
- Chris Houlihan, American professional wrestler
- Smitty Houlihan, Canadian former ice hockey player