Heeny History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Heeny

What does the name Heeny mean?

The Irish surnames in use today are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Heeny originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó hEighnigh. 1

Early Origins of the Heeny family

The surname Heeny was first found in County Londonderry (Irish: Doire), a Northern Irish county also known as Derry, in the province of Ulster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Heeny family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heeny research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heeny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heeny Spelling Variations

The spelling of names in Ireland during the Middle Ages was rarely consistent. This inconsistency was due to the scribes and church officials' attempts to record orally defined names in writing. The common practice of recording names as they sounded resulted in spelling variations such as Heaney, Heany, Hegney, Hegeany, Heagney, Heeney and others.

Early Notables of the Heeny family

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

Heeny migration to Australia +

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

Heeny Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Michael Heeny, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 2
Michael Heeny, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" 3

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABOUKIR 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Aboukir.htm
South Australian Register Monday 14th May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Europa 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/europa1855.shtml