Show ContentsHerny History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Gaelic name used by the Herny family in ancient Ireland was Ó hAthairne, which is possibly derived from the word athardha, which means paternal. 1

Early Origins of the Herny family

The surname Herny was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Herny family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Herny research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Herny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Herny Spelling Variations

Names written in official documents were generally spelt as they sounded, leading to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion in records of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Herny that are preserved in documents of the family history are Harney, Hartney, O'Harney, Hartney, Harnedy, Harnet, Harnett, Hartnet, Hartnett, Haherny and many more.

Early Notables of the Herny family

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

Migration of the Herny family

Irish families began to immigrate to British North America and the United States in the 18th century, but the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. The earlier settlers came to North America after a great deal of consideration and by paying relatively high fees for their passage. These settlers were primarily drawn by the promise of land. Those later settlers that came during the 1840's were trying to escape the conditions of poverty, starvation, disease, and death that had stricken Ireland. Due to the enormity of their numbers and the late date of their arrival, these immigrants primarily became hired laborers instead of homesteading settlers like their predecessors. An exhaustive search of immigration and passenger lists has revealed many Irish immigrants North America bearing the name Herny: Edward Harnet settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1640; and he was reported from "suffering from favouring the Quakers"; James, Ann, John, Patrick and William Harnet all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.



  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print


Houseofnames.com on Facebook