Show ContentsHeny History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Heny

What does the name Heny mean?

The Irish surnames in use today are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Heny originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó hEighnigh. 1

Early Origins of the Heny family

The surname Heny was first found in County Londonderry (Irish: Doire), a Northern Irish county also known as Derry, in the province of Ulster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Heny family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heny research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heny Spelling Variations

Individual scribes in the Ireland during the Middle Ages would often record a person's name various ways. How the name was recorded depended on what that particular scribe believed the proper spelling for the name pronounced to him was. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origin of the Heny family name include Heaney, Heany, Hegney, Hegeany, Heagney, Heeney and others.

Early Notables of the Heny family

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

Migration of the Heny family

Irish families began to immigrate to British North America and the United States in the 18th century, but the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. The earlier settlers came to North America after a great deal of consideration and by paying relatively high fees for their passage. These settlers were primarily drawn by the promise of land. Those later settlers that came during the 1840's were trying to escape the conditions of poverty, starvation, disease, and death that had stricken Ireland. Due to the enormity of their numbers and the late date of their arrival, these immigrants primarily became hired laborers instead of homesteading settlers like their predecessors. An exhaustive search of immigration and passenger lists has revealed many Irish immigrants North America bearing the name Heny: Charles, Daniel, Hugh, James, John, Patrick, Samuel and Thomas Heaney all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; Bernard, James, John, Mathew, Nicholas and Phillip Heany arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..


Contemporary Notables of the name Heny (post 1700) +

  • Heny Sison, known as Chef Heny, a Filipino pastry chef, cake decorator, and television host


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)


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