| ![Show Contents]() Heraghty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland The Irish name Heraghty was originally written in a Gaelic form as Mag Oireachtaigh, which is derived from the word "oireachtach," referring to a member of an assembly. Translating the name into English produces no less than seventeen different synonyms. But the origin of the name is most intriguing. In the 12th century, the name was simply Ó Roduibh but a Oireachtach Ó Roduibh at that time caused the name to be shortened to Oireachtach, their present form. Early Origins of the Heraghty familyThe surname Heraghty was first found in counties Roscommon and Galway (Irish: Gaillimh) part of the province of Connacht, located on the west coast of the Island, where they were one of the Hi Maine Septs in Kelly's country. They were direct descendants of the O'Connors, Kings of Connacht, and the Chief of the Clann was one of the four royal chiefs under the O'Connor. 1 The tree on the Coat of Arms illustrates their descendancy from the O'Connors. Early History of the Heraghty familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heraghty research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1585, 1598 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Heraghty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Heraghty Spelling VariationsA 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 Heraghty include Gerrity, Gerty, Gerighty, Gerighaty, Gerety, Gerahty, Garraty, Geraty, Jerety, McGerity, MacGeraghty, MacGartie, MacGarty and many more. Early Notables of the Heraghty familyAnother 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heraghty Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Heraghty familyIreland 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 Heraghty to North America: Robert Gerity who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1858; Patrick Gerrity, also Peter and Phillip, all arrived in the 1860's; Sally McGarty arrived in New York State in 1847.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Heraghty (post 1700) | + |
- Pat Heraghty, American musician, member of the American band Cordovas
- Michael Heraghty, Irish rebel and assassin who was instrumental in overthrowing "the tyranny of landlordism" in the late 1800s, a monument with a cross is found in Kindrum honoring his and his fellow rebels
- Stephen Heraghty, Australian businessman who purchased Lachlan Valley Railway (LVR) and re-branded it Independent Railways of Australia in 2006
- Michael P. Heraghty, Australian politician, Mayor of Manly, Sydney, New South Wales
- Julie Heraghty, Australian political candidate for Warringah in the 2001 federal election
- O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
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