Surname Darrah - Meaning and Origin
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Darrah: What does the surname Darrah mean?
Darrah is an Irish surname of Gaelic origin. It is derived from the old Gaelic name "O'Doirreatha" where "O" means the "grandson" or "descendant" and "Doirreatha" stands for "exile" or "banished." Predominantly found in Kerry County, Ireland, this surname has variations like Darragh, Darroch, Darrach, and more. Furthermore, a Scottish derivation of Darrah possibly links to the Gaelic word "darach" which means "oak tree," thus hinting towards an occupational or topographical connection. The surname speaks of an individual's ancestral occupation or location, or references an ancestor who was exiled or banished. Over time, descendants of O'Doireatha or those living near oak trees came to be known as Darrah.
Order DNA origin analysisDarrah: Where does the name Darrah come from?
The surname Darrah is of Irish origin. It is an anglicised version of the Gaelic name "Ó Dearáin" or "Ó Doirin," which means descendant of Dearán or Doirín. Dearán is a personal name derived from “dearo-,” meaning ‘anger’. Likewise, Doirín indicates diminutive form of 'doire', meaning 'oak'.
Despite its Irish origins, the surname Darrah has spread to various parts of the world due to migration, particularly during the Irish diaspora when many Irish people migrated to the United States, Australia, Canada and other countries due to famine and other hardships in Ireland.
Today, this surname can be found in these countries, but it remains most common in Ireland. In the U.S., it is prevalent in the northeastern states that saw heavy Irish settlement, while in Australia and Canada, it is found more sporadically. Even today, people holding this surname can be found around the globe, but the highest concentrations are generally in regions with a strong historical Irish influence.
Variations of the surname Darrah
The surname Darrah has various spelling variations and derived forms due to regional dialects and the passage of time. Some of the variants include Darragh, Dara, O’Darragh, and O’Dara. It may also be written as Darroch, a Scottish variant, especially among descendants of Scottish immigrants.
The surname can have different origins, from Irish to Scottish, and perhaps even further afield. It is thought to be a reduced Anglicized form of Ó Dathraidha, an old Gaelic clan name. The O’ prefix in Irish and Scottish names often indicates a clan or familial organization. Therefore, O’Darrah, O'Darragh, O'Dara, and O'Darroch can be considered as variations as well.
Some other versions that might exist due to phonetic spellings or transcription errors include Darra, Darrow, Darrough, Darroh, Daraugh, etc. Each of these would have originated from the same name but have gone through changes because of local accents or language evolution.
Overall, considering spelling variability, regional influences, and possible alternative origins, the Darrah surname covers a broad spectrum of potential versions and pronunciations.
Famous people with the name Darrah
- J.R. Richard Darrah, an American professional baseball player in the Major League Baseball.
- Paul Darrah, an English cricketer who appeared in twenty-seven matches in the Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1887 to 1890.
- Victoria Darrah, an American Singer-Songwriter and music-therapist.
- Kevin J. Darrah, an American technology expert, currently serving as the Director of the Office of Services Management (OSM) within the US Environmental Protection Agency.
- Mark J. Darrah, an American Executive Producer at Bioware, the video game development company.
- Christopher Darrah, an American Businessman who is the CEO of Darrah Electric.
- Pam Darrah, an American singer who rose to fame after her appearance on the popular reality television series American Idol in 2005.
- David C. Darrah, a strategist and business consultant who is a Fellow at the Harvard Business School.
- Brad Darrah, an American film actor and producer who is best known for his roles in the films “Iron Man 2” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”.
- Elliott Darrah, an American sculptor whose artwork has appeared in galleries and exhibitions in the United States and abroad.