Habbernathay was first used as a surname by descendants of the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. The ancestors of the Habbernathay family lived at the place named Abernethy in southeastern Perthshire. The place name is of Pictish origin, meaning "mouth of the river Nethy." [1]
The surname Habbernathay was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland at Abernethy, a parish that " derives its name from Aber, signifying in Gaelic, in conjunction with Nethy, the 'termination of Nethy' which is descriptive of the situation of the church, near the entrance of that river into the Spey." [1] The Abernethy family appear in ancient records as lay abbots of the Culdee Monastery of Abernethy in Strathearn in the 12th century. [2]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Habbernathay research. Another 212 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1162, 1189, 1196, 1296, 1399, 1465, 1560, 1680, 1740 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Habbernathay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Repeated and inaccurate translation of Scottish names from Gaelic to English and back resulted in a wide variety of spelling variations with single names. Habbernathay has appeared Abernethy, Anernethie, Abernathy, Abernathie, Albirnyth, Abirnethie, Abernettie and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Habbernathay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Habbernathay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many Scottish families suffered enormous hardships and were compelled to leave their country of birth. They traveled to Ireland and Australia, but mostly to the colonies of North America, where many found the freedom and opportunity they sought. It was not without a fight, though, as many were forced to stand up and defend their freedom in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of these Scots abroad have rediscovered their heritage in the last century through the Clan societies and other organizations that have sprung up across North America. Immigration and passenger ship lists show some important early immigrants bearing the name Habbernathay: John Abernathy who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1767; William and Anne Abernathy settled in San Francisco, Cal. in 1850; Robert Abernethy arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1871..