Henigan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of Henigan

The Irish name Henigan originally appeared in Gaelic as "O hEanain," but sometimes is an abbreviated form of the surname Henagahn.

Early Origins of the Henigan family

Early History of the Henigan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Henigan research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1172 is included under the topic Early Henigan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Henigan Spelling Variations

A name was often recorded during the Middle Ages under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer because literacy was rare there was no real push to clearly define any of the languages found in the British Isles at that time. Variations found of the name Henigan include Heenan, Henaghan, Henehan, Heenon, Hanegan, Hannegan, Hanigan, Hannigan, Haneghan and many more.

Early Notables of the Henigan family

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

Migration of the Henigan family

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Henigan to North America: Dennis, James, John, Martin, Mathias, Michael, Patrick and Robert Heenan, all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1860; Mrs. Ellen Henegan settled in San Francisco Cal. in 1850.