Show ContentsDennehy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Dennehy

What does the name Dennehy mean?

Dennehy is an ancient Pictish-Scottish name. It is derived from the personal name Dennis. Dennehy is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Some patronyms were formed from the personal names of the father of the bearer, while others came from prominent religious and secular figures. The surname Dennehy was first established in Lancashire, prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

Early Origins of the Dennehy family

The surname Dennehy was first found in Stirlingshire at Denny, a town and parish. "This place, of which the name, derived from the Gaelic Dun, is descriptive of its situation on an eminence, originally formed part of the parish of Falkirk, from which it was separated about the year 1618. A considerable portion of the parish appears to have belonged to an establishment of Knights Templars which probably existed here or in the immediate vicinity, and the land is still known by the appellation of Temple-Denny. " 1

John Denny had a safe conduct into England in 1424 to trade with the Denizens. John Denny was a merchant of Glasgow in 1634. Peter Denny was the largest shipbuilder on the Clyde in his time, only to be overtaken by the great Brown's shipyard which built the Queens Mary and Elizabeth. 2

In England, "Denny has long been a Suffolk name. In the reign of Edward III., Roger le Denney held the manor of Denneys in Coddenham parish, which remained in the family for several generations. In 1541 Thomas Denny, Esq., owned Mells; and in 1562 the Dennys held estates in Bramfield. John Denye resided at "Lakyngh" in the hundred of Laokford in the 13th century." 3

Early History of the Dennehy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dennehy research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1500, 1501, 1537, 1539, 1541, 1544, 1546, 1549, 1609, 1612, 1613, 1631, 1635, 1642, 1651, 1652, 1653, 1654, 1668, 1676, 1706, 1713, 1785, 1800, 1802, 1804, 1810, 1811, 1821, 1838, 1842, 1856 and 1870 are included under the topic Early Dennehy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dennehy Spelling Variations

Translation has done much to alter the appearance of many Scottish names. It was a haphazard process that lacked a basic system of rules. Spelling variations were a common result of this process. Dennehy has appeared Denny, Denney, Dennie, Denie, Denye, Deanney, Deannie and many more.

Early Notables of the Dennehy family

Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dennehy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dennehy family to Ireland

Some of the Dennehy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Dennehy migration to the United States +

Many Scots left their country to travel to the North American colonies in search of the freedom they could not find at home. Of those who survived the difficult voyage, many found the freedom they so desired. There they could choose their own beliefs and allegiances. Some became United Empire Loyalists and others fought in the American War of Independence. The Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up in the last century have allowed many of these disparate Scots to recover their collective national identity. A search of immigration and passenger ship lists revealed many early settlers bearing the Dennehy name:

Dennehy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jerry Dennehy, age 16, who was a bonded passenger, arriving in Boston in 1850

Dennehy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dennehy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Eliza Dennehy, aged 33 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Agnes" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 4
  • Mr. Francis Dennehy, aged 12 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Agnes" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 4
  • Mr. Michael Dennehy, aged 4 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Agnes" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 4

Dennehy migration to Australia +

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

Dennehy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Dennehy, (Denayh), (b. 1818), aged 19, Irish maid who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Diamond" on 29th November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5

Dennehy 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:

Dennehy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Ellen Dennehy, (b. 1838), aged 40, Irish cook from Cork departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878
  • Miss Margaret Dennehy, (b. 1859), aged 19, Irish general servant from Cork departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878
  • Miss Edmont Dennehy, (b. 1860), aged 18, Irish farm labourer from Cork departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Dennehy (post 1700) +

  • Brian Dennehy (1938-2020), American five-time Primetime Emmy nominated, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild winning film, television and stage actor, inductee into the American Theater Hall of Fame
  • Jeremiah Dennehy (1950-2023), commonly referred to as Miah Dennehy, an Irish footballer
  • Mick Dennehy, U.S. college football coach
  • Major-General Sir Thomas Dennehy CIE (1829-1915), Irish soldier and administrator in British India
  • John Dennehy (1940-1983), former Irish Fianna Fáil politician, Lord Mayor of Cork (1983–1984)
  • Donnacha Dennehy (b. 1970), Irish composer from Dublin
  • Darren Dennehy (b. 1988), Irish footballer
  • Billy Michael Dennehy (b. 1987), Irish footballer

Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Edward Dennehy, British Seaman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 6
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. John Dennehy, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 7
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Thomas Dennehy, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 8


The Dennehy Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Et mea messis erit
Motto Translation: My harvest will also arrive.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. 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. 24)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Diamond
  6. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  7. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  8. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html


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