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Irish surname

Hennessy: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó hAonghusa · 'descendant of Aonghus' (one-choice)

Woulfe (1923) gives Hennessy as an anglicised form of Ó hAonghusa, 'descendant of Aonghus'. He names four families of the name, in Offaly, Meath, Meath and north Co. Dublin, and Thomond, and says it is now common throughout Munster and Leinster. In 1890 Hennessy births were found chiefly in Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Dublin.

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Coat of arms associated with the Hennessy surname
Irish formÓ hAonghusa
Meaning'descendant of Aonghus' (one-choice)
CountiesCork, Limerick, Tipperary, Dublin
Other spellings5
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Hennessy crest gifts

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Origin of the Hennessy name

Woulfe lists four families called Ó hAonghusa: lords of Clann Cholgan (barony of Lower Philipstown, Offaly); lords of Ui Mac Uais (barony of Moyfenrath, Meath); chiefs of Gailenga Beaga in Meath and north Co. Dublin; and a Dalcassian family in Thomond.[1]

  1. 1829William Maunsell Hennessy, Irish scholar, born at Castle Gregory, Co. Kerry.[3]
  2. 1866W. M. Hennessy publishes his edition of the 'Chronicon Scotorum'.[3]
  3. 1871Hennessy edits 'The Annals of Loch Cé' in two volumes.[3]
  4. 1890111 Hennessy births registered (incl. varieties), chiefly Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Dublin.[2]

Where in Ireland

Co. CorkFirst county named for Hennessy births in 1890.[2]
Co. LimerickAmong the counties where Hennessy was principally found in 1890.[2]
Co. TipperaryAmong the counties where Hennessy was principally found in 1890.[2]
Co. DublinPrincipal Hennessy county in 1890; also home of the Ó hAonghusa chiefs of Gailenga Beaga.[2][1]
Co. OffalyÓ hAonghusa lords of Clann Cholgan, coextensive with the barony of Lower Philipstown.[1]
Co. MeathÓ hAonghusa lords of Ui Mac Uais, in the barony of Moyfenrath.[1]

Notable people named Hennessy

William Maunsell Hennessy1829–1889Irish scholar born at Castle Gregory, Co. Kerry; edited the 'Chronicon Scotorum', 'The Annals of Loch Cé' and part of the 'Annals of Ulster'.[3]

Other spellings

O Hennesy · Hensy · Hinsy · Henchy · Hinchy[1]

The Hennessy coat of arms

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

Hennessy surname: questions

What does the surname Hennessy mean?

Woulfe gives Hennessy as a form of Ó hAonghusa, 'descendant of Aonghus', explaining Aonghus as 'one-choice'.[1]

Is Hennessy an Irish name?

Yes. Woulfe lists Hennessy as an anglicised form of the Irish surname Ó hAonghusa, the name of four Irish families.[1]

Where in Ireland is the Hennessy name from?

Woulfe places Ó hAonghusa families in Offaly, Meath, north Co. Dublin and Thomond, and says the name is now common throughout Munster and Leinster. In 1890 Hennessy births were chiefly in Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Dublin.[1][2]

How common was the surname Hennessy in 1890?

Matheson's Births Index for 1890 lists 111 Hennessy entries for Ireland (Leinster 31, Munster 74, Ulster 3, Connaught 3).[2]

Sources

  1. Ó hAonghusa — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oh/o-haonghusa.php
  2. Hennessy — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/hennessy.php
  3. Hennessy, William Maunsell — Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, vol. 25 (Norman Moore, 1891), Wikisource. en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/...

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