Surname Laherty - Meaning and Origin
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Laherty: What does the surname Laherty mean?
The surname Laherty is an Irish surname thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic "O'Leathlobhair", a patronymic name meaning "descendent of Leathlobhair". Leathlobhair, in turn, appears to be derived from the old Irish Gaelic words "leth" meaning "half" and "lobhair" meaning "the speaker". This suggests that individuals bearing the Laherty name may have descended from someone who had the nickname of "half the speaker", suggesting that this was a nickname given to an individual who had significant skills in persuasive communication.
The Laherty surname is found primarily in counties Kerry and Cork in the southwestern portion of Ireland. Those individuals called Laherty may have descended from the ‘Uí Leathlobhair’, an Irish sept located in the barony of Caha in County Kerry. A sept was an extended family recognized by a government or clan as having a common ancestor.
The Lahertys were a part of the powerful three-tribe grouping known as the Corcu Loígde. However, by the mid-1500s they were devastated by famine and power struggles. Those bearing the Laherty surname today are believed to descend from individuals who left Ireland in the 1700s. In the 1830s, there was significant emigration from Ireland, and many Lahertys moved to the United States, Australia, and Canada.
Through research, those bearing the Laherty surname may be able to trace their heritage back to their Irish roots, and even as far as the Uí Leathlobhair sept. The meaning of the Laherty surname is indicative of an individual who had the ability to speak for and persuade the people in his or her community.
Order DNA origin analysisLaherty: Where does the name Laherty come from?
The last name Laherty is an Irish surname originating from County Mayo in Ireland. Today, it is common in the counties of Mayo, Galway, and Donegal in Ireland, as well as in London, England. It can also be found in Scotland, Wales and the rest of the British Isles.
In North America, the Laherty surname is most common in Canada, especially in eastern Canada in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. It can also be found in the United States in states such as New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. In the more recent past, Irish immigrants to America often had Laherty as one of their surnames, especially in rural Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The Laherty surname is also common in Australia due to a significant number of Irish immigrants in the 19th century, as well as in New Zealand, South Africa, and parts of Asia.
Overall, the last name Laherty is found in many countries across Europe and those of the British Isles as well as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and parts of Asia and North America. This is a testament to the spread of Irish culture across the world and the diaspora of Laherty families in different countries.
Variations of the surname Laherty
The surname Laherty is of Irish origin. Common variants of Laherty include Laffert, Lawlery and Laverty. Laherty is derived from the Gaelic title Ó Liatháin, meaning “descendant of Liathán”. Liathán is an old Irish name which is believed to be derived from the word “Liath” - meaning “gray”.
The anglicized spelling of Laherty is also found as Lawhir, Leary and Lehir. The shortened form of Laherty is Lasty (or Lastie). The given name Laithhe, Lathe, Lasea and Lasia are also found in relation to the surnmae Laherty.
The patronymic Laffey is derived from the same source. Clan Laffey in Ulster is descended from the original Lahertys, and the spelling of the surname has developed in accordance with local dialect. Additional Colla sectional surnames derived from Laherty include Laffy, MacLaffey, Laffan and MacLaffan.
The full name of Laherty is often written as Latty and O'Latty, with O'Latty often condensed to Latty, Lawty or Lawtie. The Lafferty variant is likely derived from the shorter form of O'Laherty.
Other anglicized forms of the name include Lahert, Laheit, Lehairt, Laher, Laherity, Lemert, Lohret, Laheart and Lecarty.
Famous people with the name Laherty
- Alexis Laherty: Canadian model and actress, best known for her work in the Netflix series Between.
- Andrew Laherty: American hockey player and coach, who is currently head coach of the San Diego Gulls of the AHL.
- Bobby Laherty: British actor, singer, and songwriter who has appeared in films such as “East is East” and “Downton Abbey”.
- Chris Laherty: Irish actor, producer, director, and writer who directed the 2015 film A Christmas Star.
- Donal Laherty: Former Irish politician and leader of the Catholic‐right Democratic Unionist Party.
- Eamonn Laherty: Award‐winning film director, producer, and editor who won an IFTA Award for his documentary film “The Road”.
- John Laverty: English television and film writer, director, and producer who has worked on series such as “A Touch Of Cloth” and “The Keith & Paddy Picture Show”.
- Matt Laherty: Former professional American football player who played for the San Diego Chargers.
- Mike Laherty: English musician and songwriter who is the frontman of the indie rock band The Rifles.
- Sarah Laherty: Canadian artist, photographer, and technology enthusiast, best known for her work on virtual reality projects.