Show ContentsHening History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

There are several possible origins for this surname. The name may be derived from the Old English word "heghen" meaning a "farm or holding," in which case, the name may have come from the place of residence of the initial bearer. Alternatively, the surname may be derived from the Old English word "heyne" meaning "a mean person," and may have come from a characteristic of the initial bearer.

Early Origins of the Hening family

The surname Hening was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where the name has long been associated with the barony of Halywode.

Early History of the Hening family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hening research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1289, 1327, 1630 and 1655 are included under the topic Early Hening History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hening Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Haining, Hain, Hainning, Henning, Haning, Hanning and others.

Early Notables of the Hening family

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

Ireland Migration of the Hening family to Ireland

Some of the Hening family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hening migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hening Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Hening, who landed in Newbury, Massachusetts in 1674 1
Hening Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Henry Hening, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 1
  • Georg Hening, who landed in America in 1783 1
Hening Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Hening, who landed in New York in 1811 1
  • George Hening, aged 68, who arrived in New York in 1812 1
  • Erastus Hening, who arrived in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1846 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Hening (post 1700) +

  • Thomas S. Hening, American politician, Member of Virginia State Senate 16th District, 1916-21 2


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook