The Clan/Sept History

The Irish name O Hart was originally written in a Gaelic form as O hAirt, which
connotes a descendant of Art.

The Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to
the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames
were not rigidly fixed by this period because the general population was
illiterate and could not specify an exact spelling for their names. The
following variations for the name O Hart were encountered in the archives: Hart,
O'Hart, Harte, MacArt, McArt, MacCart, McCart and many more.
First found in county Meath, where they were of the southern Ui Neill. Before
the Anglo-Norman invasion of the 12th century, their chiefs were known as the
lords of Teffia.
Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century.
For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common.
Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America.
Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived,
were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United
States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers
occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as
construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration
lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name O Hart: Daniel Hart who
settled in Virginia in 1640; along with Elizabeth Hart in 1654; Henry Hart in
1637; James Hart in 1653; John Hart in 1635; Mary Hart in 1635.

Motto Translated: Brave and faithful.