Contents [hide]

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

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Sources

Healey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Healey

What does the name Healey mean?

While many Irish names are quite familiar to us, their original Gaelic forms are often forgotten and mysterious. The original Gaelic form of the name Healey is Ó hEalaighthe, which is derived from the word "ealadhach," which means "ingenious." Another Gaelic form of the surname is Ó hEilidhe, which is derived from the word "eilidhe," which means "claimant." 1

Early Origins of the Healey family

The surname Healey was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Healey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Healey research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1309, 1579, 1656, 1690, 1695, 1701, 1724, 1741, 1794 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Healey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Healey Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, a name was often recorded under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer. Literacy was rare at that time and none of the languages to be found in the British Isles had achieved any great semblance of standardization. Variations of the name Healey found include Haly, Haley, Haily, Hely, Healy, Healey, O'Healey, O'Haly and many more.

Early Notables of the Healey family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Edmond (Edmund) Halley, FRS (1656-1741), an English astronomer, geophysicist, mathematician, meteorologist, and physicist who is best known for computing the orbit of the eponymous Halley's Comet. He was born in Haggerston, in east London, but his family came from Derbyshire.Patrick O'Healy, was a Franciscan Bishop of Mayo...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Healey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Healey World Ranking

In the United States, the name Healey is the 3,466^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 2 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Healey is ranked the 241^st most popular surname with an estimated 181 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Healey is the 546^th popular surname with an estimated 7,072 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks Healey as 643^rd with 1,118 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Healey as 824^th with 8,217 people. 6

Healey migration to the United States +

Ireland experienced a dramatic decrease in its population during the late 19th century. This was in a great measure, a response to England's imperialistic policies. Hunger and disease took the lives of many Irish people and many more chose to leave their homeland to escape such hunger and disease. North America with its promise of work, freedom, and land was an extremely popular destination for Irish families. For those families that survived the journey, all three of these things were were often attained through much hard work and perseverance. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Healey:

Healey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Healey, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1645 7
Samuel Healey, who landed in Maryland in 1670 7

Healey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Williaan Healey, who arrived in Mississippi in 1844 7
Thomas Healey, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1852 7
Peter Healey, aged 40, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1852 7
Cath Healey, aged 20, who landed in New York in 1854 7
John Healey, aged 17, who landed in New York in 1854 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Healey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Healey Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Patrick Healey U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 225 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York 8

Healey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Ezra Healey, who arrived in Canada in 1831
James Healey, aged 27, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Matilda" from Cork, Ireland
Neal Healey, aged 25, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
Mary Healey, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
Mary Ann Healey, aged 3, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Healey migration to Australia +

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

Healey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

George Healey, English convict from York, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. John Healey, (Haley), (b. 1786), aged 34, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1844 10
Mr. James Healey, English convict who was convicted in Southwark, London, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 18th June 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
Mr. Michael Healey, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 8th December 1839, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. George Healey, English convict who was convicted in Bath, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "David Clarke" on 3rd June 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Healey 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:

Healey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Dr Healey, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Duke of Roxburgh 14
Mr. Healey, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 15
Mrs. Healey, British settler travelling from London with 5 children aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 15
Mr. Peter Healey, British settler arriving as the 1st detachment of Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps travelling from Tilbury, Essex aboard the ship "Ramillies" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th August 1847 16
Mr. James Healey, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Rajah" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th October 1853 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Healey (post 1700) +

Lori T. Healey (1959-2025), American urban planner who served as former Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley's chief of staff, chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
Robert J. "Bob" Healey Jr. (1957-2016), American attorney, businessman, educator, restaurateur and political activist
Arthur Daniel Healey (1889-1948), American politician, U.S. Representative from Massachusetts
James Christopher Healey (1909-1981), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York Democratic State Committee, 1945; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1956, 1960, 1964 17
H. T. Healey, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 5th District, 1938 17
Francis G. Healey, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 31st District, 1962 17
Ella F. Healey, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York Democratic State Committee, 1936 17
Edward J. Healey (1924-2000), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Florida State House of Representatives, 1974-80, 1982-84, 1986-2000 17
Edward J. Healey, American politician, Mayor of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, 1927, 1933 17
Edward F. Healey, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 14th District, 1920 17
... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Healey family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. James Healey (d. 1914), British Greaser from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 18

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Henry Frederick Healey, British Corporal Sergeant, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking, was wounded in action 19

HMS Repulse

Mr. Gordon Allenby Healey, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 20

Vimy Ridge

Charles William Healey (1897-1917), Canadian farmer, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge May 1917

Sources +

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/
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
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
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
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-clarke
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
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
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html