Hiffernan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Early Origins of the Hiffernan family

Early History of the Hiffernan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hiffernan research. Another 52 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1719 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Hiffernan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hiffernan Spelling Variations

Within archives, many different spelling variations exist for the surname Hiffernan. Ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in the name of the single person being recorded under several different spellings. Different spellings that were found include Heffernan, Heffernam, O'Heffernan, O'Heffron, Hefferen, Hefferney, Heffernon, Hefferon and many more.

Early Notables of the Hiffernan family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

• Paul Hiffernan (1719-1777), Irish miscellaneous writer, born in or near Dublin in 1719...

Migration of the Hiffernan family

North America accepted thousands of Irish immigrants during the 19th century as their homeland suffered under foreign imperialistic rule. Although settlers from the early portion of the century came to North America by choice in search of land, by far the largest influx of Irish immigrants came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Many of these Irish families left the country destitute and in some cases suffering from disease. However, those who survived the long ocean voyage were especially vital to the development of industry in the United States and what would become known as Canada. Research of immigration and passenger lists has shown many early immigrants bearing the name Hiffernan: Patrick Hefferen settled in Alexandria Virginia in 1817; Bridget Hefferin settled in Pennsylvania in 1773; Edmund, Edward, John, Michael, Thomas and William Heffernan arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.