Moore (surname)
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Word/name | Celtic |
| Meaning | "stately and noble" |
| Region of origin | Ireland |
| Other names | |
| Related names | More O'Ferrall |
| Frequency Comparisons:[1] | |
Moore is an ancient Irish family, originating in County Laois. The O'Mores have been recorded as inhabiting Count Laois since the first century AD. The family were rulers of the county and lead many rebellions to free it from English rule, most notably the Irish Rebellion of 1641, commanded by Rory O'More. Other notable leaders include Ruairí Óg Ó Mórdha. The leader of the O'Mores' title was "Lord of Leix" (now often spelt "Laois") or "King of Leix".
Variations of the name can appear as Moore, More or Moor; as well as the Scottish Gaelic originations Muir, Mure and Mor/Mór; the Manx Gaelic origination Moar; the Irish originations O'More and Ó Mórdha; and the later Irish variants O'Moore and de Mora.
The similarly pronounced surname Mohr is of Germanic lineage and is not related to the Gaelic variations. The English surname of "More" is not linked to that of the O'More family.
Meanings and origins[edit]
- The Irish House of O'Mordha (anglicised, "O'More"), gained its name from the Irish Gaelic word mordha, meaning "stately and noble". The O'Mores are an ancient family whose numerous military victories in their county of Laois afforded them this title.
- The Anglo-Norman Moores (established in Ireland's province of Munster soon after the Anglo/Norman invasion) are called de Mora in Irish, a phonetic rendering of the English name which is derived from the word "moor", or "heathy mountain". They are not related to the O'Mores.
- From Middle English mor meaning "open land" or "bog" and given to persons dwelling near a moor or heath.
- Alternatively of Gaelic/Manx origin Moar, the name for a collector of manorial rents on the Isle of Man.
- The spelling Moore was sometimes used to indicate a son of someone called More – this being one use where spelling is significant.
- Possibly derived from Maurus,[citation needed] a Roman first name which meant "dark skinned" in Latin, and related to the Old French More meaning "Moor" like Berber, a colloquial nickname for a person of dark complexion, often describing someone of North African descent.
- Possibly originated from early references to persons who worked with boats at a wharf or Moorage.[1]
- The De La Mare surname from French Normandy was progressively anglicized in England as "de la Mare" (Walter de la Mare), "De La More", "More", and "Moore" after its bearers accompanied and assisted William the Conqueror in his conquest of England, eventually settling in Benenden, Kent County for several centuries, before many moved to America, including Reverend John Moore of Newtown, Long Island. The De La Mare's of Normandy trace their heritage to Vikings and the coastal city of Møre og Romsdal in Norway. The Møre surname is a place name derived from the Old Norse "Moerr", and the Norwegian word "Marr", meaning ocean, sea, or coastal district. Rollo, the famous Viking and founder of the Dukes of Normandy, which includes the present day British Royal Family, may have been a member of this family, if his father - as some historians have it - was Rognvald Eysteinsson, Earl of Møre, Norway.
Frequency[edit]
In the United States, "Moore" ranked 9th among all surnames in the 1990 census, accounting for 0.3% of the population.[2] These bearers are not, however, the descendants of the House of O'More. The descendants of the House of O'More now bear the surname, More O'Ferrall.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Moore Surname Meaning". forebears.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ^ United States Census Bureau (9 May 1995). s:1990 Census Name Files dist.all.last (1-100). Retrieved on 2008-07-04.