Leary Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Leary last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Leary last name
Meaning of the Leary last name: descendant of Laoghaire. Leary is an Irish surname from Ó Laoghaire, "descendant of Laoghaire", a personal name of early Irish kings. The last name is rooted in Cork. Abroad O'Leary and Leary are used for the same surname. Cork harbour books of the nineteenth century list sailors and traders of this surname side by side.
Arms associated with the Leary name
Coats of arms associated with the Leary last name belong to the English heraldic tradition, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Leary family history
This is only a glimpse of the Leary story. The full Leary history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Leary coat of arms. Get the full Leary report.
Leary name FAQ
What does the Leary name mean?
Descendant of Laoghaire. Common variants include O'Leary, Lary.
Where does the Leary surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Leary coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Leary coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).