This interesting surname is of Irish origin and is the Anglicization of the Gaelic "O' Flaithbheartaigh" which translates as the descendant of Flaithheartach, a byname meaning "generous, hospitable". The derivation is from "flaith(eamh)", prince or ruler, and "beartach", acting or behaving. O' Flaherty is the leading sept of "lar-Connacht", the west of Ireland. In the modern idiom the variants include O' Fla(g)herty, Flagherty, Flaverty. This name is recorded in 1846 when one Thomas O' Falgherty, eighteen years and his wife Eliza, seventeen years sailed from Liverpool aboard the "Adirondack" to the Port of New York. In the sam year one H. L. O' Flaherty aged twenty five years sailed from Liverpool aboard the "Greenock" to the Port of New York. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roderic O' Flaherty, which was dated (1629 - 1718), West Connacht, Ireland, during the reign of King Charles 1, "The Martyr", 1625 - 1649. 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.

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