Show ContentsHeafy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic personal name "ó hEamhthaigh." 1 The origins of this ancient personal name are obscure. It is possible that there is a connection to the word "eamh" which denotes a "groaning or exclamation of disgust."

Early Origins of the Heafy family

The surname Heafy was first found in the Athlone region, County Westmeath (Irish: An Iarmhí) in the Irish Midlands, province of Leinster. Later some records of the family were found in Waterford and Cork. 1

Early recorded instances of the name are rare, but there was a bearer recorded as a husbandman of Thisteinagh, in Couty Westmeath in 1601.

Early History of the Heafy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heafy research. The years 1659, 1775 and 1835 are included under the topic Early Heafy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heafy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Heaphy, O'Heaphy, Heaphey, Heavey, O'Heavy, Heafy, O'Heafey, Heflin and many more.

Early Notables of the Heafy family

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


United States Heafy migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Heafy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mary, John, Maurice, and Bridget Heafy, who sailed for America on board the "Oronoco" from County Waterford, Ireland on May 1st, 1851

Australia Heafy migration to Australia +

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

Heafy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Patrick Heafy, (b. 1804), aged 23, Irish farm labourer who was convicted in Tipperary, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 19th July 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Heafy (post 1700) +

  • Matthew "Matt" Kiichi Heafy (b. 1986), Japanese-born, American musician, best known as the guitarist and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Trivium


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza


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