Ó hAoláin

Rev Patrick Woulfe

Irish Names and Surnames

1923

Ó hAOLÁIN—I—O Healane, O Heyllane, O Helane, O Hilane, O Hillane, O Hylane, O Heolane, O Hoolane, O Holane, O Hollan, O Holland, Heelan, Helen, Hillane, Hillan, Holian, Heyland, Hiland, Hylan, Hyland, Holland, (Whelan), &c.; 'descendant of Faolán' (diminutive of faol, a wolf); a variant of Ó Faoláin (which see) through the aspiration of the initial f; a common surname, in the 16th century, in Offaly and Leix, whence it spread into other parts of Ireland. Owing to the different dialectical pronunciations of 'ao,' it is variously anglicised in the different provinces. In Munster, it is generally anglicised Heelan; Hyland is the usual form in Leinster; Holland in Ulster. In Connacht, it is sometimes corrupted to Ó hIoláin, Ó hOláin, Ó hOileáin, and Ó hÓileáin, anglicised Hillane, Hyland, Holland, &c, but the origin is clearly shown by the fact that these forms are nearly always also anglicised Whelan. Compare with Ó hAodhagáin.

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