Etymology from Place Names
Most surnames of this type likely derive from place names of the time, with locations and eras overlapping. Among these theories are: one originating from Ohara in Kōka-chō, Kōka City, Shiga Prefecture during the Heian period; another originating from Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture (formerly Ohara-go) also during the Heian period; and a third originating from Oharanō in Nishikyō Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture.
Other theories include origins in Ohara, Sanda City, Hyogo Prefecture during the Nanboku-chō period, and Ohara, Daito-chō, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture during the Muromachi period.
Etymology from Topography
The name derives from “hara,” meaning a wide, flat field. One theory suggests the bearers either owned such land or lived near it.
Approximately 40,000 Japanese people bear this surname.
Explanation of this calligraphy
The top row is in hiragana, the middle row in kanji, and the bottom row in katakana, all written horizontally.
