The Ancient History of the Surname O’Dair

Few amongst the ancient surnames of England Are so highly regarded as O’Dair The name O’Dair is one of the oldest Norman surnames, and it’s history is closely interwoven into the prosaic tapestry which is preserved for posterity by the scribes in the ancient chronicles of England.

Careful research into ancient manuscripts such as the Domesday Book, the Wace Poem, the Honour Roll of the Battel Abbey, The Curia Regis, Pipe Rolls and local parish and church records reveals the first record of the name O’Dair was found in the area of Galloway in south western Scotland. Tradition has it that the foundation of the family of Adair of Dunskey and Kinhilt originating from a fugitive son of Fitzgerald, Earl Desmond of Adair in Ireland. Desmond was descended from Otto Geraldine, a Norman noble who accompanied William Duke of Normandy into England in 1066. He also accompanied Strongbow into Ireland in 1172 and became Earl of Desmond. He settled in Kirkcurdbright and Wigtown.

During the early and middle development of the name many different spellings were found in he archives researched. Although your name O’Dair, occurred in many references, from time to time, the surname was also officially spelt Adair, Odeir, Edzear, Edgar, Adare, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. For example, in one graveyard in lowland Scotland, there lies a father and eight sons, on two spellings on the headstone match each other. Scribes and church officials recorded the name as it was told to them, frequently spelling it different ways on each occasion. Sometimes preferences for different spelling variations usually either came from a division of the family, or religious reasons, or sometimes patriotic reasons.

The family name O’Dair is believed to be descended originally from the Norman race, frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French origin. They were more accurately of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D., under their King Stirgud the Stout. Thorfinn Rollo, his descendent, landed in northern France about the year 940 A.D. The French King, Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege to Paris, finally conceded northern France and it became Normandy, the territory of the north men. Rollo married Charles’ daughter and became a convert to Christianity. Rollo was the first Duke of Normandy, from whom Duke William later to become King William of England was descended. William, after his success over the Saxon King Harold at the Battle of Hasting in 1066, granted the estates of the vanquished Saxon nobles to his noble companions.

A competent administrator, Duke William took a census of most of England in 1086 and recorded it in the Domesday Book, which is now in the British Museum in London. A family name capable of being traced back to this document, or to Hastings, was a signal honor for most families during the middle ages.

The surname O’Dair emerged as a notable English name in the county of Desmond in southern Ireland the outlawed Robert Desmond Adair settled in Moreton Castle where he married Arrabella, daughter of John Campbell, Lord of Argyle. Notable amongst the family at this time was Desmond of Adair. Many played an important political role in the affairs of both Scotland and Ireland, and even France.

For the next two or three centuries the surname O’Dair flourished and played an important role in local politics and in the affairs of England. During the 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th centuries England was ravaged by religious conflict. The newly found passionate fervor of Cromwellianism, and the Church, rejected all non believers. The Roman Church still fought to retain it’s status. The power of the Church, and the Crown, their assessments, tithes, and demands on rich and poor alike broke the spirit of men and many turned from religion, or renewed their faith, pursuing with vigor and ferocity, the letter of the ecclesiastical law. Many families were freely encouraged to migrate to Ireland, or to the colonies. None believers or dissidents were banished, sometimes even hanged.

Those that settled in Ireland became know as the ‘Adventurers for land in Ireland’ swiftly changing allegiances, depending on the power in London. Essentially, they undertook to keep the protestant faith and became know as the undertakers. The Adair’s were a branch of the Desmond and Fitzgerald’s, and twenty-nine heads of families were transferred back to Ulster from Scotland. Most of them settled in Antrim.

Some chose the New World, sailing aboard the fleet of sailing ships know as the White Sails. The stormy Atlantic, small pox, dysentery, cholera and typhoid took its toll on the passengers and many of the overcrowded ships which left arrived with only 50% of their passenger list. The migration or banishment to the New World also continued, some voluntarily from Ireland, but mostly directly from England or Scotland, their home territories. Some also moved to the European continent.

In North America, one of the first migrants which could be considered a kinsman of the family name O’Dair, and variable spellings of that same family name was Alice Adair, Charles Town S.C. 1776. Ann Adair settled in New York State 1774; James Adair settled in Pennsylvania 1771. From the port of arrival many settlers joined the wagon trains westward. During the revolution some declared their loyalty to the Crown and moved northward into Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.

Meanwhile, the family name O’Dair continued to play an active and important role in their New World environment and in the politics of the old country. Many were prominent in the arts, sciences, commerce and the professions. Amongst the notable contemporaries of this name, O’Dair, is General Sir Alan Adair Yeoman of the Queen’s Guard, Arthur Adair, diplomat, Sir Gilbert Adair, biophysics.

This report does not represent individual lineage of the O’Dair family tree and no genealogical representation is intended or implied.