Hughy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The surname Hughy originally appeared in Gaelic as "O hEochaidh" or "Mac Eochaidh," derived from an Irish personal name "Eachaidh," meaning a "horseman."

Early Origins of the Hughy family

The surname Hughy was first found in Tipperary (Irish: Thiobraid Árann), established in the 13th century in South-central Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times at Ballymackeogh, and were descended from the MacKeoghs who in turn were descended from their eponymous ancestor Eochaidh O'Kelly one of the ancient Kings of Ui Maine.

Early History of the Hughy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hughy research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1534, 1653, 1725, 1798, 1828 and 1893 are included under the topic Early Hughy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hughy Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Hughy that are preserved in archival documents are Hoey, O'Hoey, Hoy, Hue, Kehoe, Keogh, MacKeogh and many more.

Early Notables of the Hughy family

Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hughy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hughy migration to Canada +

Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Hughy name:

Hughy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Michael Hughy, aged 16, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
Hugh Hughy, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
Rosy Hughy, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834