Hourican

This interesting Irish surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "O hAnnrachain", and is a synonym of Somers or Summers in the Granard area, Co. Longford. These names when found in Leinster are usually of English origin from the Olde English pre 7th Century "Somer" meaning summer and would have been a nickname for someone of a warm or sunny disposition, or for someone who was associated with the season of summer in another way. Another possible derivation is from the occupational name for a carrier, from the Middle English "sum(p)ter", meaning the driver of pack animals. Recordings of the surname from the Irish church registers include; James, son of James and Mary Hourican, who was christened on September 25th 1864, at Ballinalee Co. Longford; Ann, daughter of Patrick and Ann Hourican, who was christened in Drumlish, Co. Longford, on February 16th 1865; on March 25th 1865, Michael, son of Bernard and Mary Hourican, who was christened in Ballinalee, Co. Longford; and Biddy, daughter of Thomas and Catherine Hourican, who was christened on March 17th 1866, at Scrabby District, Co. Cavan. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Owen Hourican, witness at christening, which was dated April 5th 1864, Ballinalee, Co. longford, during the reign of Queen Victoria, known as "The Great Queen", 1837 - 1901. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.