O'MEARA Family History

This interesting surname, recorded in the spellings of Mara, Maro, 0'Meara, and O'Mara, has a number of possible origins. Without the prefix 'O', it can be either English or Irish, and if English most name holders will derive from the biblical female name 'Mara' meaning bitter, and first recorded in the book of Ruth. This name was introduced into England by Crusaders returning from the various expeditions to free the Holy land in the 11th and 12th centuries. 'Mara' was very popular as a baptismal name with the early protestants and later puritans.