Hillend History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of Hillend

There are many Irish surnames being used today in forms that are quite different than their original, ancient forms. Hillend originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó hUallachain, which is derived from the word "uallach," which means "proud." 1

Early Origins of the Hillend family

Early History of the Hillend family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hillend research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hillend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hillend Spelling Variations

Irish names were rarely spelled consistently in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations of the name Hillend dating from that time include Holohan, O'Holohan, Mulholland, Highland, Hoolohan, Houlihan, Hooligan, Whelton, Oulihan, Oulahen, Whoolahan and many more.

Early Notables of the Hillend family

More information is included under the topic Early Hillend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hillend family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Hillend family relocated to North American shores quite early: Daniel, David, John, Michael, Patrick and Owen Hollahan and David and Michael Mulholand, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.