Show ContentsHencher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Hencher originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó hAonghusa, which means "descendant of Angus." [1]

Early Origins of the Hencher family

The surname Hencher was first found in County Offaly (Irish: Uíbh Fháilí) originally the Kingdom of Uí Failghe, located in central Ireland in the Province of Leinster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Hencher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hencher research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hencher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hencher Spelling Variations

Names from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name Hencher revealed many variations, including Hennessey, Henasey, Henasay, Henchy, Henchey, Henchie, Hinchy, Hinchey, Hinchie, Henesey, Henessy, Henesy, Hennesey and many more.

Early Notables of the Hencher family

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

Migration of the Hencher family

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Hencher: William Hennesey who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1874; Edmund, Edward, James, Michael, Patrick and Robert Hennessey settled in Philadelphia between 1850 and 1870.


Halifax Explosion
  • Master Harold Fenwick  Hencher (1910-1917), Canadian resident from Protestant Orphanage, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [2]
  • Master George Ernest  Hencher (1912-1917), Canadian resident from Protestant Orphanage, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [2]


  1. O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
  2. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance


Houseofnames.com on Facebook