Show ContentsO'Hartney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Early Origins of the O'Hartney family

The surname O'Hartney 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 O'Hartney family

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

O'Hartney Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, a standardized literary language known by the general population of Ireland was a thing of fiction. When a person's name was recorded by one of the few literate scribes, it was up that particular scribe to decide how to spell an individual's name. So a person could have several spelling variations of his name recorded during a single lifetime. Research into the name O'Hartney revealed many variations, including Harney, Hartney, O'Harney, Hartney, Harnedy, Harnet, Harnett, Hartnet, Hartnett, Haherny and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Hartney family

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

Migration of the O'Hartney family

Thousands of Irish left in their homeland in the 18th and 19th centuries to escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, and in the search of a plot of land to call their own. These immigrants arrived at the eastern shores of North America, early on settling and breaking the land, and, later, building the bridges, canals, and railroads essential to the emerging nations of United States and Canada. Many others would toil for low wages in the dangerous factories of the day. Although there had been a steady migration of Irish to North America over these years, the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name O'Hartney or a variant listed above: 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


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