Surname Heary - Meaning and Origin

Heary: What does the surname Heary mean?

The surname Heary is an anglicized version of the Irish surname O hEithir, derived from the Old Irish personal name Eidir. The prefix "O" (or "Ua" in Old Irish) indicates descendency from the original bearer of the personal name. Written in its original Gaelic form, the surname may appear as Ó hEithir.

Recorded as Ó hEithir, O'Heary, Heary, and Keary, this is an Irish surname. It is found mainly in the north of France and in Ireland. Its origins can be traced to the kingdom of Ui Failghe (Offaly) located in Leinster.

The O'Heary family is believed to have been chieftains in Offaly as early as the seventh century. Ó hEithir were descended from a branch of the ancient Irish Ui Faelan (O'Meany) tribe. This earlier surname was often anglicised as Keary, hence the various spellings of the surname.

As a personal name, Ó hEithir means "Greenwood" or "Bright forest-dweller". It was most popular in the 12th century when it was briefly a dominant personal name. It is believed to have originally referred to somebody who lived in a wooded region, often on a hill.

Today, the Heary surname continues to be found in Ireland, mainly in Limerick and Tipperary, but also in other counties. It is also found in parts of France where Irish people settled. The spelling of the surname varies across borders, and members of the same family may present different versions of the name on either side of the border.

Heary: Where does the name Heary come from?

The last name Heary is most commonly found today in parts of Ireland and the United Kingdom. Heary is an especially popular name in the counties of Cork and Tipperary in Ireland; however, it is not considered a particularly common last name. The name can also be found in other parts of the British Isles such as England, Scotland, and Wales.

The origin of the Heary surname dates back to the dawn of Irish surnames in the Middle Ages. It was derived from the English word ‘harry’ which meant to pillage. Hence, the Heary surname represented a person who was a descendant of a raider or a plundering warrior. Over time, the name has become simply a combination of the words ‘hear’ and ‘ry’, which has nothing to do with pillaging or raiding.

In more recent times, Heary has remained popular in parts of Ireland and the United Kingdom, with a few people bearing the name scattered elsewhere in the world. The spelling variations of Heary can include Heary, Hearie, Heer, Heere, and Heery. It is also possible to find Heary with double vowels and even triple consonants, and other variants still may be out there.

Today, Heary families still keep in touch, especially in Ireland and the UK. They may trace their ancestry by referring to family traditions and stories, or receive help from genealogists documenting Heary families.

Variations of the surname Heary

The surname Heary is an anglicized spelling of the Irish surname O'hEarchaigh (meaning "descendant of Eachach"), which is derived from the personal name Eachach, from the Gaelic ‘each’ meaning ‘horse’.

Within Ireland, the surname Heary is found primarily in Counties Cork, Offaly, Limerick, Mayo, and Antrim. In addition, it is found in Scotland and Wales due to the Ulster Migration of the eighteenth century.

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the Heary surname include:

* O'Heary

* O'Hara

* O'Hare

* O'Hear

* Heary

* Haire

* Harry

* Harrie

* Harr

* Hear

* Hare

* Hearratty

* Herriott

* Herity

* Hearty

* Hearchy

* Hearchy

* Harrington

Surnames with the same origin as Heary, but with no variant spellings, include:

* MacEarchaigh

* MacHarrig

* MacHaru

* MacHarr

* MacHaro

* MacHara

* MacHarrie

* Harrig

* Harria

* Harri

* Hara

* Harie

* Harrey.

The variant spellings of Heary demonstrate the several ways Irish surnames have been adapted to various cultures and languages as the families moved across the world during the great Irish diaspora. It also reflects the enduring presence of the Irish presence in many countries, particularly during past times of immigration.

Famous people with the name Heary

• Richard Heary: Former vice chairman of the Republican National Committee and political consultant
• Maureen Heary: Member of the original Broadway cast of "Hair"
• Elizabeth Heary: Irish writer, poet, playwright, and journalist
• Robert Heary: American actor, best known for his role in the film "State and Main"
• Pat Heary: Professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour
• Nicholas Heary: English footballer who played for Everton FC
• Fionnuala Heary: Irish traditional musician
• Jim Heary: Former CFL football player
• Michael Heary: Former American professional basketball player
• Sarah Heary: English-Australian news presenter for Channel 9 in Australia

Other surnames

HearHeardHeardsonHearinHearingHearlHearleHearlsonHearnHearneHearneyHearonHearringHearronHearseHearstHeartHearteHearty