Surname Heery - Meaning and Origin
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Heery: What does the surname Heery mean?
The last name Heery is an anglicised form of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó hEidirsceóil, which derives from a Gaelic personal name, Eidirsceóil, believed to mean ‘one who helps others’. The name can also be translated as ‘ironside’, referring to a person of great strength and perseverance. The Ó hEidirsceóil family originated in south County Meath in the region of Trim, and is recorded as having been a powerful sept of jurisdictional chiefs in the Early Modern period.
The Heery form of the family name first appeared in the United States in the late 1700s. The first recorded instance of an immigrant bearing this surname was James Heery who arrived in Philadelphia aboard the Neptune, in 1774. He was a soldier with the 77th Regiment during the American Revolutionary War. It is likely he adopted the anglicised form of the surname after emigrating to begin a new life in America.
Today, Heery is seen as a rare surname, mainly found in the US. Yes, there are still families that bear the Heery name in Ireland, however many of them have since changed their surname to Heary over the course of time. In the US, records indicate the majority of people named Heery trace their ancestry back to James Heery and the 77th Regiment, making them descendants of an honourable lineage of brave veterans.
Order DNA origin analysisHeery: Where does the name Heery come from?
The surname Heery is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland today. Records from 1881 show the highest concentration of the Heery surname was in the Irish counties of Longford, Roscommon, Tipperary and Wexford. Historically, the name Heery is believed to be derived from Gaelic origin, possibly meaning "descendent of Riabhach", referring to a person with a grizzled or grey hair.
As of today, the Heery surname is still quite prominent in Ireland, although it also has some concentration in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the U.S., the surname is primarily located in the northeastern part of the country. There are some Heery families located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. In Canada, Heery families are found primarily in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. In Australia, Heery families are located in South Australia, Queensland, and Victoria.
The Heery surname can also be found in various records throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Records show that it had some small presence in the past and is occasionally found in Scotland today. Finally, there are a few Heery families in continental Europe, primarily in the countries of Germany, France, and Switzerland.
Variations of the surname Heery
The surname Heery has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variant of the surname is Heery, while other variants include Hery, Heerye, Heerrey, Heirey, Heeryeh, Hearn, Hearne, Hearneh, Hearnie, Hearny, Harney, Hiron, Hurn, Hurney, Hyer and O’Hearne.
The surname's Irish spelling is Ó hIomhair, derived from the Irish Ó hIomhar, which is a variation of Ó hEachthair, meaning "grandson of Eachthar". The root name, Eachthar, is derived from a Gaelic phrase, each ("horse") and tár ("quick"). The word Eachthar has been anglicised as O’Hearne, Hearne, Hearn, Hearney, Hearnie, and Hearny.
The English spellings of the Heery surname, such as Hearn, Hearne, Hearneh, Hearnie, Hearny, Harney, Hern, Hiron, Hurn, Hurney, and Hyer, all have their origin in the Irish name Ó hIomhair, or Ó hIomhar.
Several alternative spellings of the Heery surname include Heerye, Heerrey, Heirey, and Heeryeh. These spellings are more likely to be found in Scotland than in other parts of the United Kingdom.
In conclusion, the Heery surname has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Heery, Hery, Heerye, Heerrey, Heirey, Heeryeh, Hearn, Hearne, Hearneh, Hearnie, Hearny, Harney, Hiron, Hurn, Hurney, Hyer, and O’Hearne.
Famous people with the name Heery
- Josh Heery: British television producer, writer, director, and composer. He is known for his work on shows such as Home Away from Home, G-HAUS, and The Circle.
- Alan Heery: British footballer who played as a forward for several teams from 1985 to 1996.
- Noel Heery: Irish business executive and investor, who formerly served as CEO for the Arnotts Department Store Group.
- Stephen Heery: American film editor best known for his work on Collateral (2004), Hancock (2008), Escape Plan (2013), and Jack Reacher (2012).
- Michele Heery: American actress most known for her work in films such as The Godfather Part III (1990), War (2007), and Bad Santa (2003).
- Cori Heery: American music supervisor and record producer who has worked with artists such as Michael Jackson, Pitbull, and Jennifer Lopez.
- William Heery: British actor best known for his roles in films such as The Edge of Love (2008) and My Week with Marilyn (2011).
- Abi Heery: British singer and songwriter, best known for her work on the soundtrack to the 2019 film, Five Feet Apart.
- Cristina Heery: American fashion model, actress, and reality television personality, who rose to fame on America’s Next Top Model.
- John Heery: Irish award-winning poet and novelist known for works such as The Dear Green Place (1991) and Life in Two Worlds (1997).