Surname Geary - Meaning and Origin

Tracing the Path of the Geary Lineage through iGENEA DNA Test: A Journey from Celtic Roots to Western Europe

As part of my mission to explore my family heritage, I undertook the iGENEA DNA test, focused particularly on the Geary surname. The revealing results traced back the lineage to Celtic tribes, likely from Ireland and Britain, with notable migration patterns witnessed across Western Europe. The associated Y-DNA Haplogroup is R1b, significant among Western Europeans, further proving my Gaelic roots.

T. Geary

Geary: What does the surname Geary mean?

The surname Geary is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "Ó Gadhra," which means "descendant of Gadhra." The word "Gadhra" is interpreted as "dog" or "hound," thus implying the characteristics of loyalty and perseverance often associated with these animals. The Geary family was historically a part of the Fiachrach dynasty and predominantly settled in the County Sligo area of Northwestern Ireland. Today, this surname is prevalent among Irish communities around the world. It's important to note that while the interpretations of the meaning for this and any surname can slightly vary, many believe it signifies the traits mentioned.

Geary: Where does the name Geary come from?

The surname Geary has a Gaelic origin and is derived from the Old Gaelic name "Gadhra" which means "hound" or "dog." This name was commonly used in Ireland and translated into Geary during the process of Anglicization in the Middle Ages.

Despite these roots, Geary-style names, such as Gearey, Gearie and Garry, developed in England independently of the Gaelic form. Hence, Geary, as a surname, also developed in England with a different meaning "fickle" or "changeful." It traces back to an Old English pre-7th century word, "gierela," meaning "changeable" or "wandering."

Today, the Geary surname is widespread in countries like the United States, England, Canada, and Australia. In Ireland, it remains common in Counties Cork and Kerry in particular. Despite the broad distribution, it is not considered a particularly common surname globally.

Variations of the surname Geary

The surname Geary has both Irish and English origins and hence, has a variety of spellings and variants.

From the Irish origin, Geary is likely an anglicized version of the Gaelic "O'Gadhra," which means "descendant of Gadhra". Gadhra itself means "hound," suggesting that the original bearers of the name might have been strong and valorous like a hound. Variants from the same origin could include O’Gara, O’Geary, O'Gadhra, Gaughra, Gara, and Gearey.

The English surname Geary is derived from the Old German personal name "Gerhard," composed of the elements "gari" (meaning spear) and "hard" (meaning brave, hardy, or strong). Variants of this name according to English origin could include Gearie, Gerry, Gary, Gery, Garry, and Geery.

Variations of the Geary name likely arose when someone moved to a new town or country and spelled their name as it sounded, leading to multiple spellings of the same original surname. The Geary surname also appears in various historical records with other surnames of the same root like MacGeary, MacGarry, and MacGary.

It's also important to note that surnames evolved over time due to illiteracy, phonetic spelling, regional dialects, and changes in language.

Famous people with the name Geary

• Anthony Geary: An American actor known for his role as Luke Spencer in the ABC soap opera "General Hospital".
• Karl Geary: An Irish-born American actor, writer, and club owner known for his roles in films like "Hamlet" and "The Burrowers".
• Dan Geary: A former English cricketer.
• Joe Geary: Former English professional cricketer.
• Ted Geary: An American naval architect and yacht designer.
• Evelyn Geary: Better known as Evelyn Nesbit, an American artists' model, chorus girl, and actress.
• Lewis A. Geary: An American civil servant and politician.
• Michael Geary: Retired Irish sportsperson known for his Gaelic games career.
• Jeremy Geary: A retired Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League.
• Steve Geary: An English professional footballer who played as a defender.
• Dennis Geary: An English footballer who played as an inside forward for several clubs, including Everton.
• Ava Geary: An Irish actress and singer known for her roles in various Irish television dramas.
• George Geary: An English cricketer who played for Leicestershire and England.
• Philip Geary: An Australian cricketer.
• Paul Geary: The original drummer and one of the founders of the rock band "Extreme".

Other surnames

GearGeareGearhardGearhardtGearheartGearrGears