The Hallerans

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The Halleran Family

Halleran History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Halleran originally appeared in Gaelic as O hAllmhurain, which is derived from the word allmhurach, which means pirate.

The main branch of the family claims descent through the O’Connors (Kings of Connaught) and, as such, from the Heremon Kings of Ireland.

Early Origins of the Halleran family

The surname Halleran was first found in the counties of Clare and Galway (Irish: Gaillimh), part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island. There, they held a family seat from very ancient times. The Holleran variant is typical to Counties Galway and Mayo.

“This family was, as the name implies, ‘importers’ of Wine; and were lords of Clan Fergail, a district in which Galway town is situated; and had their castle at Barns, close to the sea-side, about three miles west of Galway. The MS. Vol. H. 2.17, in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, states that ‘O’Halloran is the chief of twenty-four townlands on Clan Fergail; and of theses are the O’Antuiles and O’Fergus of Roscam.’ That statement refers to the 12th century. These twenty-four townlands of Clan Fergail lay east of the river Gallimh (or ‘Galway.’) In the 13th century, the O’Hallorans were dispossessed of their ancient inheritance of Clan Fergail by the De Burgos (Burke) invaders. The O’Hallorans and the O’Flahertys moved to Iar or West Connaught, where they built the castle of O’Hery in Gnomore and, according to tradition, the castle or Rinville in Northern Connemara. According to the Chronicles of the Wars of Thomond, at A.D. 1309, there was another family of the O’Hallorans in Thomond, descended from the stock of the O’Briens and other Dalcassians in Munster.” 

Halleran Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland in the Middle Ages was inconsistent due to competing dialects and languages and the general illiteracy of the population. Research into the name Halleran revealed many spelling variations, including Halloran, O’Halloran, Haloran, and others.

Halleran Ranking

In Newfoundland, Canada, the name Halleran is the 659th most popular surname, with an estimated 67 people with that name.

 Halleran migration to the United States

Many Irish families did not fare so well within the English-ruled Ireland. Besides racial and religious discrimination, many families were renting out small tracts of farmland from absentee landowners at often unreasonable rates. Beginning in the late 18th century, moderately well-off Irish families decided to emigrate to British North America or the United States to own their land plots. However, a radical change occurred in the 1840s, with the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Up to this point, the island’s population had been increasing rapidly, and a steady demand for grain crops had depleted soil over the years. Two failed crops, and one poor one caused widespread disease and starvation. Thousands boarded ships looking for opportunities elsewhere. North America welcomed them as a source of cheap labor required for the many industrial and infrastructure projects underway and as a means to occupy the western regions quickly. Research into immigration and passenger ship lists indicates that people bearing the name Halleran were among the earliest settlers to arrive in North America:

Halleran Settlers in the United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Richard Halleran, aged 26, was an Irish settler who arrived at Ellis Island, New York, in 1835 aboard the ship “Carroll of Carrolton”
  • Mr. Thomas Halleran, aged 29, arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1844 aboard the ship “J. Whitey”
  • Mrs. Johanna Halleran, aged 22, arrived at Ellis Island, New York in 1844 aboard the ship “J. Whitey”
  • Miss Kitty Halleran, aged 20, arrived at Ellis Island, New York, in 1846 aboard the ship “Orphan”
  • Mr. Dennis Halleran, aged 20, arrived at Ellis Island, New York, in 1846 aboard the ship “Orphan”

 Halleran migration to Canada

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

  • Mr. Leo Halleran was an early settler to St. Mary’s, Newfoundland and Labrador 
  • Mr. Matthew Halleran of Newfoundland, who was accused of killing William Keen in 1750 with nine others
  • Mr. Dennis Halleran of St. John’s married in 1807 
  • Ms Bridget Halleran, found in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, in 1815

Contemporary Notables of the name Halleran

  • James E. Halleran, American former Marine who was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal & Combat Action Ribbon and the police officer who currently provides security for actors
  • Baker Halleran, American actor known for Chicago P.D. (2014), Whitey and Street Smarts working title (2018)
  • Laura Halleran, Canadian actress known for North of 60 (1992), and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show (1997)
  • Jeremiah Halleran (1843-1925), was a Canadian-born, Newfoundland merchant, and politician from Halifax, Nova Scotia, who represented St. John’s East in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1889 to 1893