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Hickey History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Hickey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Hickey

What does the name Hickey mean?

While many Irish names are familiar, their past incarnations are often shrouded in mystery, reflecting the ancient Gaelic heritage of their bearers. The original Gaelic form of the name Hickey is Ó hIcidhe, originally derived from the word "iceadh," which refers to a "physician" or "healer." 1

Early Origins of the Hickey family

The surname Hickey was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Hickey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hickey research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1014 and 1641 are included under the topic Early Hickey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hickey Spelling Variations

Official documents, crafted by early scribes and church officials, primarily contained names that were spelled according to their pronunciation. This lead to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating an illusion that a single person was many people. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Hickey that are preserved in the archival documents of the time are Hickey, Hickie, O'Hickey, O'Hickie, Hicky and others.

Early Notables of the Hickey family

Notable among the family name at this time was

Antony Hickey (d. 1641), Irish theologian who belonged to the Irish family of h-Icidhe, of co...
Hickey's epitaph was written by Wadding, who entertained great affection for him, and testified to his erudition, humility, and piety...

Hickey World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hickey is the 1,173^rd most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Hickey is ranked the 678^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,689 people with that name. 3 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hickey is the 65^th popular surname with an estimated 411 people with that name. 4 Australia ranks Hickey as 435^th with 8,678 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Hickey as 612^nd with 1,170 people. 6

Hickey migration to the United States +

Irish families fled the English-colonized Ireland in record numbers during the 19th century for North America. Many of those destitute families died from disease during, and even shortly after, the long journey. Although those that immigrated before the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s often were granted a tract of land, those that arrived later were generally accommodated in urban centers or in work camps. Those in the urban centers would labor in the manufacturing sector, whereas those in work camps would to build critical infrastructures such as bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Regardless of when these Irish immigrants came to North America, they were critical for the rapid development of the young nations of the United States and Canada. Early immigration and passenger lists have recorded many early immigrants bearing the name of Hickey:

Hickey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. Wm Hickey, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship "Paul" in 1635 7

Hickey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Hickey, who settled in Boston in 1768
Catharine Hickey, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1772

Hickey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Hickey, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 8
William Hickey, who arrived in New York in 1823 8
Dennis Hickey, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 8
Richard Hickey, aged 26, who arrived in Missouri in 1841 8
Daniel Hickey, aged 32, who arrived in Missouri in 1844 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hickey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Miss Florence Hickey, (b. 1897), aged 3, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th September 1900 en route to New York, USA 9
Mrs. Rhoda Hickey, (b. 1869), aged 31, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th September 1900 en route to New York, USA 9
Mr. Stanley Hickey, (b. 1900), aged 9 months, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th September 1900 en route to New York, USA 9
Mr. Thomas Hickey, (b. 1867), aged 33, Cornish machinist travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th September 1900 en route to New York, USA 9

Hickey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hickey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Hickey, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1755 10
Michael Hickey in Chapel's Cove, Newfoundland in 1782 10
Thomas Hickey in Harbour Main, Newfoundland in 1783 10
Mr. John Hickey U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 11
Mr. John Hickey Sr., U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hickey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Michael Hickey, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1806
Mary Hickey, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1829
Ellen Hickey, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1830
Patrick Hickey, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1831
Daniel Hickey, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "William" from Cork, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hickey migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hickey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Maurice Hickey, (b. 1787), aged 22, Irish convict who was convicted in Waterford, Ireland for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Boyd" on 10th March 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Miss Ellen Hickey, (Ellinor, Elizabeth), (b. 1790), aged 23, Irish servant who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1860 13
Miss Sarah Hickey, (b. 1795), aged 23, Irish convict who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mrs. Ellen Hickey, (b. 1797), aged 29, Irish convict who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. John Hickey, (b. 1808), aged 19, Irish farm servant who was convicted in Tipperary, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 19th July 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hickey migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hickey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. E. Hickey, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Earl Durham" arriving in Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand in 1841 17
Mr. Michael Hickey, British settler as part of the 8th Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 18
Miss Johanna Hickey, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gipsey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th October 1854 17
Miss Jane Hickey, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gipsey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th October 1854 17
Thomas Hickey, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gipsy" in 1854
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hickey (post 1700) +

Conor Angus Cloud Hickey (1998-2023), known by his stage name Angus Cloud, an American actor best known for his portrayal of Fezco in the HBO television series Euphoria (2019–2022); he tragically died at the age of 25
Thomas Henry "Bo" Hickey (1945-2023), American professional football player who was a fullback for the Denver Broncos of the American Football League (AFL)
David Hickey (1938-2021), American art critic who wrote for Rolling Stone, ARTnews, Art in America, Artforum, Harper's Magazine, and Vanity Fair, nicknamed "The Bad Boy of Art Criticism"
William J. Hickey, American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1922-24; Member of New York State Senate 48th District, 1925-32; Justice of New York Supreme Court 8th District, 1936-43
William P. Hickey, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Massachusetts State House of Representatives Ninth Suffolk District, 1923-24
William H. Hickey, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Saratoga County Democratic Party, 1927-42; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1936
William E. Hickey, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Massachusetts State House of Representatives Fifteenth Suffolk District, 1905
William A. Hickey, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Barranquilla, 1924; Dundee, 1926-29
Mrs. William Hickey, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Democratic National Committee from South Dakota, 1920
Vivian Hickey, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 2000
... (Another 75 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Hickey family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Arthur W. Hickey (1872-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19
Mr. Edward Hickey (1885-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Robert Arthur Hickey (1914-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Colac, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20

Pemberton Mill

Miss Ellen Hickey, factory worker in the Pemberton Mill on 10th January 1860 when the mill collapsed trapping 900 workers as rescue attempts continued into the night, an oil lantern was knocked over further engulfing the trapped workers in fire, she died

SS Caribou

Mr. Martin Hickey, Newfoundland crew member from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking
Mr. J. Ira Hickey, British passenger who was Captain of the P.E.I. Highlander was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking

SS Newfoundland

Mr. William Hickey, Newfoundlander from St. John's, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he survived

SS Southern Cross

Mr. Thomas Hickey (1868-1914), Newfoundlander from St. John's who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found

USS Indianapolis

Harry Todd Hickey, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 21

The Hickey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Honor virtutis praemium
Motto Translation: Honor is the reward of virtue.

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Boyd
Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew