Surname Clochar - Meaning and Origin
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Clochar: What does the surname Clochar mean?
The surname Clochar is believed to be derived from the Gaelic Irish “O Clochar”, meaning a form of "descendant of the stony one". This surname was found mainly in the western Irish counties of Donegal and Mayo. It was often anglicised into Clocker, Clogher and Cloucher. The variants Clocker and Clogher are also found in Northern Ireland.
The ancient history of this name traces back to the Cenél Conaill in County Donegal. The hereditary chieftains of the Cenél Conaill were the O'Donnell clan, which descended from the erstwhile High Kings of Ireland. The 'stone one' in this instance refers to the rocky landscape of the region.
Most records associated with Clochar date to the 17th century and earlier, although records linked to the surname are fewer due to the destruction of many records in the 1922 fire at the Four Courts in Dublin.
One notable individual of this family name was Ryan O'Clochar (d. 1617), chief of the Cenél Conaill at the start of the 17th century. He is remembered as a strong leader of the Irish people in Donegal against the ambitions of the English authorities.
In modern times, many descendants of this Irish family can be found living across the world, particularly in the USA and Canada. As the name has many anglicised variants, those with Clochar, Clockar and Clogher ancestry no doubt linger among the general population, unaware of their significant Irish roots.
Order DNA origin analysisClochar: Where does the name Clochar come from?
The last name Clochar is most commonly found in Ireland today, but can also be found in other nations such as Scotland, England, and the United States.
In Ireland, the origin of the last name Clochar can be traced back to the Gaelic surname MacGillamuaidh, meaning "son of the servant of the chief" and birthed by the tribes of ancient Ireland. It was made popular by the chiefs who used it to distinguish their families from others.
In Scotland, the name Clochar can be found in the islands of Arran and Bute and on the mainland of Galloway and Strathearn.
In all three of these countries, many of the name Clochar are descendants of those who left Ireland for the chance to start anew. This was especially true during the Irish diaspora of the 19th century, when millions of Irish people immigrated to England, Scotland, and the U.S. in search of better economic opportunities.
These days, members of the Clochar family are found all over the world, with some of the largest concentrations located in Ireland, Scotland, England, and the United States. Although the name is still most commonly associated with the Irish people, through immigration and intermarriage, it is now found among all nationalities.
Variations of the surname Clochar
The Clochar surname has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling of this surname is Clochar, although it can also be spelled Clohar, Cloher, Clocher, Clogher, Clouher, and Clowher.
One variant of Clochar is Clocaire, which is an Anglicized form of Clochar. This variation is derived from the Old Gaelic term “clocho” meaning “a bell”, which in turn was used as a personal name for a bell-ringer or bell-maker.
Another variant of Clochar is Cloisoir, which is a French variation of the name. This surname likely originated in France and was used in parts of Canada as a form of the Clochar surname.
Cluskey is a surname of similar origin to Clochar, derived from the Gaelic term “cloiste” meaning “bell”. This surname is most likely a variation of Clochar or another surname of similar origin that evolved over time.
Lastly, Clukey is an Irish variation of the surname Clochar. This variant is derived from “clogaire”, an alternate form of “clocho”. This surname is fairly common in Ireland and is widely found in Irish records.
In summary, the Clochar surname has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Clochar, Clocaire, Cloisoir, Cluskey, and Clukey. All of these surnames are derived from the Gaelic term “clocho” meaning “a bell”, and can be found in various records in Ireland, France, and Canada.
Famous people with the name Clochar
- Diarmuid Clochar: actor, comedian and radio presenter
- Ciaran Clochar: Irish actor
- Mary-Anne Clochar: model and actress
- Fionan Clochar: Irish professional snooker player
- Stephen Clochar: American actor
- Maria Clochar: Brazilian producer, director, and screenwriter
- Siobain Clochar: Irish journalist
- Eilish Clochar: Irish actress
- Amanda Clochar: Canadian actress
- Siobhan Clochar: Irish singer and songwriter