Show ContentsHearty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish name Hearty was originally written in a Gaelic form as O'h-Airt, which connotes a descendant of Art. 1

Specifically, the family claim descent through "Art Eanfhear, who is number 81 on the 'Line of Heremon," and son of the Monarch Conn of the Hundred Battles." He was at times called "The Solitary," as he was the only one of his father's sons that survived; his two brothers Conla Ruadh and Crionna, having been slain by their uncles. His grief was so strong that in some writings, he was referred to as "Art, the Melancholy." 2

The name literally means "a bear, a stone; noble, great, generous; hardness." 3

Early Origins of the Hearty family

The surname Hearty was first found in County Meath (Irish: An Mhí) anciently part of the kingdom of Brega, located in Eastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster, where they were of the southern Ui Neill. Before the Anglo-Norman invasion of the 12th century, their chiefs were known as the lords of Teffia.

Early History of the Hearty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hearty research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hearty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hearty Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland during the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. Since the general population did not know how to read or write, they could only specify how their names should be recorded orally. Research into the name Hearty revealed spelling variations, including Hart, O'Hart, Harte, MacArt, McArt, MacCart, McCart and many more.

Early Notables of the Hearty family

Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hearty Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Hearty migration to the United States +

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Hearty family came to North America quite early:

Hearty Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Michael Hearty, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 4
Hearty Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ann Hearty, aged 35, who arrived in America from County Amagh, in 1901
  • Bernard Hearty, aged 60, who arrived in America from County Armagh, Ireland, in 1903
  • James Hearty, aged 23, who arrived in America from Liverpool, England, in 1905
  • Jennie Hearty, aged 28, who arrived in Dawson, Pa., in 1906
  • Jennie Hearty, aged 28, who arrived in America from Hackballocross, Ireland, in 1906
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hearty migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hearty Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Frank R. Hearty, aged 41, who arrived in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada, in 1912

Contemporary Notables of the name Hearty (post 1700) +

  • Paul Hearty, Gaelic football player from Armagh, Northern Ireland


The Hearty 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: Fortis et fideliter
Motto Translation: Brave and faithful.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  3. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
  4. 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)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook