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Irish surname

Hyland: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó hAoláin, Ó hAoileáin · 'descendant of Faolán' (diminutive of faol, a wolf)

Woulfe (1923) gives Hyland as an anglicised form of Ó hAoláin, a variant of Ó Faoláin (anglicised Whelan and Phelan) formed by aspirating the initial f, and of its variant Ó hAoileáin. He says Ó hAoláin was a common surname in the 16th century in Offaly and Leix, and that Hyland is the usual form in Leinster. In 1890 Hyland births were found principally in Mayo, Dublin and Queen's.

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Coat of arms associated with the Hyland surname
Irish formÓ hAoláin, Ó hAoileáin
Meaning'descendant of Faolán' (diminutive of faol, a wolf)
CountiesOffaly, Leix, Mayo, Dublin
Other spellings4

Origin of the Hyland name

Woulfe: Ó hAoláin, 'descendant of Faolán', is a variant of Ó Faoláin through the aspiration of the initial f; 'a common surname, in the 16th century, in Offaly and Leix, whence it spread into other parts of Ireland'. Anglicised Heelan in Munster, Hyland in Leinster, Holland in Ulster.[1]

  1. 16th centuryÓ hAoláin a common surname in Offaly and Leix (Woulfe).[1]
  2. 189055 Hyland births registered; principally Mayo, Dublin and Queen's.[3][4]

Where in Ireland

Co. OffalyWoulfe: Ó hAoláin was a common surname here in the 16th century.[1]
Co. LeixWoulfe: Ó hAoláin was a common surname here in the 16th century.[1]
Co. MayoFirst county named for Hyland births in 1890.[3]
Co. DublinOne of three counties where Hyland births were principally found in 1890.[3]

Other spellings

Hylan · Hiland · Heyland · Heelan[1][2]

The Hyland coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Hyland 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.

Hyland crest gifts

Clan Hyland Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap JJ65 Hyland Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Hyland Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Hyland Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapUY46 Classic Cap - Hyland Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Hyland Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

Hyland surname: questions

What does the surname Hyland mean?

Woulfe gives Hyland as a form of Ó hAoláin, 'descendant of Faolán', a diminutive of faol, 'a wolf'.[1]

Are Hyland and Whelan the same name?

Woulfe says Ó hAoláin is a variant of Ó Faoláin (anglicised Whelan, Phelan) formed by aspirating the initial f. He adds that in Connacht the forms anglicised Hillane, Hyland and Holland are nearly always also anglicised Whelan.[1][6]

Where in Ireland is the Hyland name from?

Woulfe says Ó hAoláin was a common surname in the 16th century in Offaly and Leix, whence it spread, and that Hyland is the usual form in Leinster. In 1890 Hyland births were found principally in Mayo, Dublin and Queen's.[1][3]

Why do Hyland, Heelan and Holland look so different?

Woulfe says that, owing to different dialect pronunciations of 'ao', the Irish name is generally anglicised Heelan in Munster, Hyland in Leinster and Holland in Ulster.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó hAoláin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oh/o-haolain.php
  2. Ó hAoileáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oh/o-haoileain.php
  3. Hyland — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/hyland.php
  4. Table Explanation — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/table-explanation.php
  5. Hyland — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/944.php
  6. Ó Faoláin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/of/o-faolain.php

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