Surname Feehery - Meaning and Origin

Feehery: What does the surname Feehery mean?

The surname Feehery is derived from the Gaelic name O'Fíochartaigh, which is an Irish anglicization of the original Ulster-Scots expression O'hEochair, likely meaning "descendant of Apparitor." Apparitor is derived from the Gaelic words eochair and fear, meaning "horseman," so the surname essentially translates to "descendant of the horseman."

Feehery is a fairly uncommon surname, and is mostly found in Ireland, particularly in the western part of the country. Regional variations of the name include Feehir, Fehery, Feeheri, Fehir, and Feehilly, all of which are derived from the same root but vary in spelling based on location.

The origin of the Feehery surname dates back to the 12th century, when the first recorded bearer of the name, Lochlainn O'Fíochartaigh, was mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, an important source of Irish history. Later in the 13th century, another notable figure - Aodh O'Fíochartaigh - was assigned the title of "Chief of the Name" by the ruling English forces.

Today, the surname Feehery and its variations remain a part of Ireland's culture and heritage, and serves as a reminder of the country's unique history and heritage. Despite its relative scarcity, it's still possible to trace aspects of the name's history, including its original Irish meaning and its evolution over time.

Feehery: Where does the name Feehery come from?

The Feehery surname is most commonly found today in Ireland, particularly in the counties of Wexford, Dublin, and Kerry. Historically, the name has been associated with both the Gaelic and Norman-Irish cultures.

The Feehery name was brought to Ireland during the 12th century by the Normans from Wales. They established a strong presence in Wexford, and by the 14th century were one of the most influential families in the region. By the 17th century, the name had spread to other parts of Ireland.

In the 19th century, many Irish emigrated to the United States, where the Feehery surname is still widely found today. In America, the name can be found concentrated in New York and Pennsylvania.

In Ireland, the Feehery name is still relatively common, particularly in Wexford, Dublin and Kerry. Their presence is marked in many places, including Feehily Forest in County Wexford, and Feehely's pub in Dublin.

Today, the Feehery name is found throughout the world, though the highest concentrations remain in Ireland and the US.

Variations of the surname Feehery

The surname Feehery can be spelled in various ways, including Fahy, Fahey, Fay, Feagh, Feer, Fehir, Fehirr, Fey, Feyir, Ffear, Ffeyer, Ffyer, Pfeifer, Pfeiffer, and Pfeiferr.

The various spellings of the Feehery surname can indicate different geographic origins, as families with the same name may trace their roots to different places. In some cases, the same name can have different origins—for example, Fehir is a variant of Pfeifer in German, while Fahey is derived from the Old Irish name O’Fathaigh.

Fehir is derived from Pfeifer, a German word for “pipe,” indicating a person who worked with a pipe such as a flute maker or organ builder, likely during the Middle Ages. The Fehirr spelling may indicate a family in Galway, where the name is found throughout the county.

The Fahey spelling is derived from the Old Irish name O’Fathaigh, meaning “descendant of Fathaigh,” a personal name derived from the words “fatho” (“to fight”) and “odh” (“birth”—hence “war-born”). This surname is generally associated with parts of County Mayo, though it is also found elsewhere.

Fey is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac an Fhiodh, meaning “son of the wood.” This is originally a surname from County Fermanagh and surrounding regions. Feyir is a variant of the Irish Gaelic name Mac Aodha, meaning “son of Aodh,” the Gaelic form of Hugh.

The Ffear, Ffeyer, and Ffyer variants of Feehery are likely derived from the Welsh spelling of Pfeiffer (Pfifer). This Welsh surname is a variant of Pfeifer, meaning “pipe” in German. The Pfeiffer surname is a fairly common one in Germany, and is often Anglicized to “Feehery” in parts of Britain and the United States.

Famous people with the name Feehery

• John Feehery: Former top advisor to Denny Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Joe Feehery: President of QGA Public Affairs, political commentator and lobbyist
• Matt Feehery: War veteran and Director of the Center for Global Engagement and Security at Georgetown University
• Paul Feehery: Public relations and public affairs consultant
• Joe Feehery Jr.: Former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush
• Colm Feehery: Mid-Atlantic Regional Director at the Edinburgh-based consulting firm Gen2 Advisors
• Mary Feehery- Political consultant and daughter of John Feehery
• Thomas Feehery- Former spokesman for the Office of Management and Budget
• Albie Feehery: Former Democratic Chief of Staff and current senior advisor at American Continental Group
• Sean Feehery: Former aides to Gov. Christine Tredeaun and managing partner at NorthEast Strategies

Other surnames

Feeheny