Show ContentsHyland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

There are many Irish surnames being used today in forms that are quite different than their original, ancient forms. Hyland originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó hUallachain, which is derived from the word "uallach," which means "proud." [1]

Early Origins of the Hyland family

The surname Hyland was first found in Thomond (Irish: Tuadh Mumhan), literally North Thomond, the pre-Norman Kingdom of Thomond, since divided between counties Limerick, Tipperary and Clare, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Hyland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hyland research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hyland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hyland Spelling Variations

Before widespread literacy came to Ireland, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Accordingly, numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name Hyland family name. Variations found include Holohan, O'Holohan, Mulholland, Highland, Hoolohan, Houlihan, Hooligan, Whelton, Oulihan, Oulahen, Whoolahan and many more.

Early Notables of the Hyland family

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

Hyland World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hyland is the 4,445th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. [2] However, in Australia, the name Hyland is ranked the 837th most popular surname with an estimated 4,706 people with that name. [3] And in New Zealand, the name Hyland is the 978th popular surname with an estimated 766 people with that name. [4]


United States Hyland migration to the United States +

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Hyland:

Hyland Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Hyland, aged 29, who arrived in Maryland in 1684 [5]
Hyland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Hyland, who landed in New York in 1825 [5]
  • William Hyland, who arrived in New York in 1825 [5]
  • Michael Hyland, who landed in Mississippi in 1837 [5]
  • Thomas Hyland, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1854 [5]
  • John Hyland, aged 17, who landed in New York in 1854 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Hyland migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hyland Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Michael Hyland, who arrived in Canada in 1812
  • Mrs. Margaret Hyland, aged 36 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Emigrant" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle In October 1847 [6]
  • Miss. Martin Hyland who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Emigrant" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle In 1847 [6]

Australia Hyland migration to Australia +

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

Hyland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Hyland, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [7]
  • Mr. John Hyland, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [8]
  • Thomas Hyland, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Lysander" [9]
  • Jane Hyland, aged 24, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Lysander" [9]
  • Mathew Hyland, aged 51, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sultana" [10]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Hyland migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hyland Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mary Hyland, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jessie Osborne" in 1867
  • Miss Susan Hyland, (b. 1842), aged 26, British general servant travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January1869 [11]

Contemporary Notables of the name Hyland (post 1700) +

  • Jeffrey Jonathon Hyland (1946-2022), American real estate businessman, president of Hilton and Hyland, a real estate firm in Beverly Hills, California, and author
  • Robert Joseph "Bob" Hyland (b. 1945), former American NFL football guard
  • John Joseph Hyland Jr (1912-1998), American admiral in the United States Navy, Commmander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1967-1970
  • Sarah Jane Hyland (b. 1990), American actress, best known for her role as Haley Dunphy on the ABC sitcom Modern Family
  • Richard Frank Hyland (1900-1981), American gold medalist rugby union player at the 1924 Summer Olympics
  • Packy Hyland Jr., American founder of Hyland Software Inc in 1911, now with over 1,400 employees worldwide
  • Lawrence A. "Pat" Hyland (1897-1989), American electrical engineer, one of several people credited with major contributions to the invention of radar
  • Diana Hyland (1936-1977), American actress best known for her television appearances
  • Brian Hyland (b. 1943), American pop recording artist
  • George Hyland, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Livingston County 2nd District, 1861 [12]
  • ... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Master Thomas O'Brien  Hyland (1911-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [13]
  • Mrs. Margaret  Hyland (1886-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [13]
  • Mr. William  Hyland (1900-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [13]
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Leo James Hyland, aged 19, English Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 11 [14]


Suggested Readings for the name Hyland +

  • The Hyland Family History by Lloyd Ernest Hyland.

  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  4. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 35)
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  9. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LYSANDER 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Lysander.htm
  10. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SULTANA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/sultana1852.shtml
  11. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  12. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  13. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  14. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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