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Irish surname

Hartnett: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó hAirtnéada · 'descendant of *Artnéada' (battle-bear, battle-stone)

Hartnett comes from the Irish Ó hAirtnéada. Woulfe calls it the name of an old West Munster family still numerous in Cork, Kerry and Limerick. In 1890 nearly all Hartnett births were registered in Munster, mainly in Cork and Limerick.

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Coat of arms associated with the Hartnett surname
Irish formÓ hAirtnéada
Meaning'descendant of *Artnéada' (battle-bear, battle-stone)
CountiesCork, Limerick, Kerry
Other spellings5

Origin of the Hartnett name

Woulfe: Ó hAirtnéada is 'the name of an old West Munster family who are still numerous in Cork, Kerry and Limerick.'[1]

  1. 1890Birth indexes: 27 births, 25 in Munster, mainly Cork and Limerick.[2]
  2. 1941Poet Michael Hartnett born in Croom, Co. Limerick.[3]
  3. 1975Michael Hartnett publishes A Farewell to English, turning to Irish.[3]
  4. 1985Hartnett returns to English with Inchicore Haiku.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. CorkNamed by Woulfe; 13 of 27 Hartnett births in the 1890 indexes.[1][2]
Co. LimerickNamed by Woulfe; 10 Hartnett births in 1890.[1][2]
Co. KerryWoulfe names Kerry among the counties where the family is still numerous.[1]

Notable people named Hartnett

Michael Hartnett (Mícheál Ó hAirtnéide)1941–1999Limerick poet in Irish and English; A Farewell to English (1975); honoured by a poetry award and Newcastle West festival.[3][4]

Other spellings

Harnett · Harnedy · O Hartnedy · O Harniady · O Harnett[1]

The Hartnett coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Hartnett surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Hartnett crest gifts

Clan Hartnett Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapOB98 Classic Cap - Hartnett Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Hartnett Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

Hartnett surname: questions

What does Hartnett mean?

Hartnett is from Ó hAirtnéada, 'descendant of *Artnéada', which Woulfe glosses as battle-bear or battle-stone.[1]

Where in Ireland is Hartnett from?

Woulfe calls it an old West Munster family still numerous in Cork, Kerry and Limerick. In 1890, 25 of 27 Hartnett births were in Munster.[1][2]

Are Hartnett and Harnett the same name?

Yes. Woulfe lists Hartnett, Harnett and Harnedy as forms of Ó hAirtnéada. The poet Michael Hartnett was the son of Denis and Bridie Harnett; his name was given as Hartnett on his birth certificate.[1][3]

Who was the poet Michael Hartnett?

Michael Hartnett (1941–1999) was a County Limerick poet who wrote in both Irish and English. A Farewell to English (1975) marked his turn to writing in Irish, and Inchicore Haiku (1985) his return to English.[3][4]

Sources

  1. Ó hAirtnéada – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/names/oh/o-hairtneada.php
  2. Hartnett – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909; 1890 birth indexes), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/hartnett.php
  3. Michael Hartnett – Life, Ricorso (Irish literature database). ricorso.net/rx/az-data/authors/h/Hartnett_M/life.htm
  4. Gradam Bliantúil Filíochta Michael Hartnett (Michael Hartnett Poetry Award), Limerick City and County Council. limerick.ie/ga/node/4234

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).