Show ContentsHaly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

While many Irish names are quite familiar to us, their original Gaelic forms are often forgotten and mysterious. The original Gaelic form of the name Haly is Ó hEalaighthe, which is derived from the word "ealadhach," which means "ingenious." Another Gaelic form of the surname is Ó hEilidhe, which is derived from the word "eilidhe," which means "claimant." 1

Early Origins of the Haly family

The surname Haly was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Haly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Haly research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1309, 1579, 1656, 1690, 1695, 1701, 1724, 1741, 1794 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Haly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Haly Spelling Variations

Many different spelling variations of the surname Haly were found in the archives researched. These included Scribes and church officials generally spelled a name as it sounded; as a result, a person's name could be spelt innumerable ways in his lifetime. Haly, Haley, Haily, Hely, Healy, Healey, O'Healey, O'Haly and many more.

Early Notables of the Haly family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Edmond (Edmund) Halley, FRS (1656-1741), an English astronomer, geophysicist, mathematician, meteorologist, and physicist who is best known for computing the orbit of the eponymous Halley's Comet. He was born in Haggerston, in east London, but his family came from Derbyshire.Patrick O'Healy, was a Franciscan Bishop of Mayo...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Haly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Haly migration to the United States +

The 19th century brought a massive reduction in Ireland's population. It seemed that during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s the Irish people had two options: starve or immigrate. Those that chose the later frequently headed for the United States, hopeful for land, work, and equality. Those determined for free land joined the migration west; while others stayed behind to live in urban centers and often work in factories. Still others began a transitory life in work camps, building the bridges, canals, railways, and highways so critical to the rapidly development of the growing industrial nation. Early passenger and immigration lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Haly:

Haly Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ellin Haly, aged 55, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Primrose" 2
Haly Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Haly, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1823 2
  • D L Haly, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 2
  • John Haly, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1858 2

Canada Haly migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Haly Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Haly, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Haly Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Brian Haly, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
  • James Haly, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Thomas Hanford" from Cork, Ireland

Australia Haly migration to Australia +

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

Haly Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Sylvester Haly, (b. 1823), aged 15, Irish errand boy who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for shop lifting, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 11th May 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
  • James Haly, aged 41, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Admiral Boxer"

Contemporary Notables of the name Haly (post 1700) +

  • Percy Haly, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1936 4
  • Major General Sir Richard Hebden O'Grady Haly KCB (1841-1911), British Army officer and served as General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada from 1900 to 1902


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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