Heiging History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of Heiging

There are many Irish surnames being used today in forms that are quite different than their original, ancient forms. Heiging originally appeared in Gaelic as "O huigin," which is derived from the word "uiging," which is akin to the Norse word "viking."

Early Origins of the Heiging family

Early History of the Heiging family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heiging research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1315, 1490, 1501, 1578, 1595, 1624, 1659, 1661, 1670, 1679, 1691, 1720, 1735, 1796, 1801 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Heiging History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heiging Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Heiging were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Higgins, Higgin, O'Higgin, Higgans, Higgens and many more.

Early Notables of the Heiging family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was Sean mac Fergail Óicc Ó hUiccinn (died 1490) an Irish poet, Chief Ollam of Ireland (?-1490.) Shean Duff O'Higgins was Lord of Ballynary, Sligo; Theophilus Higgons (c.1578-1659), was an English divine and convert to Catholicism; Sir Thomas Higgons (c 1624-1691), was an English diplomat and politician, Member of Parliament for Malmesbury in 1659, and...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heiging Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Heiging family

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Heiging family in North America: Dan Higgins, who settled in Virginia in 1654; Francis Higgins settled in Virginia in 1651; John Higgins settled in Virginia in 1659; Walter Higgins settled in Nevis in 1663.