Surname Heffern - Meaning and Origin
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Heffern: What does the surname Heffern mean?
The surname Heffern is derived from the Irish surname Ó hEifearnáin. It originates from the Irish Gaelic elements "each" meaning "steed" or "horse" and "fearn" meaning "alder". So, the surname is often associated with someone who has characteristics of a horse such as strength and speed or someone who lived near alder trees. Over the years, the spelling of the name has been modified due to Anglicization, variations in spelling, translation, or transcription errors. Hence, there are several variations of the surname such as Heffernan, O'Heffernan, Hefferen, O'Hefferen and more. Like many Irish surnames, it may also be tied to a particular region or clan in Ireland. Surnames are often used to identify personal characteristics, occupations, or geographical locations, so the exact meaning can vary.
Order DNA origin analysisHeffern: Where does the name Heffern come from?
The last name Heffern is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic "Ó hIfearnáin," which roughly translates to "descendant of Ifearnán." The name Ifearnán itself is made up of two elements: "i" implying 'little' and "fearn" signifying 'alder,' a type of tree. This surname first originated from the county of Cork in southern Ireland.
In its original Gaelic spelling or other forms, including Hefferan, Heffernan, and O'Heffernan, it is more common in Ireland. However, due to decades of migration and Irish diaspora, the surname is also found in countries where Irish people settled, including the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia. More specifically in the U.S, states that have a significant number of people with this surname include New York, Pennsylvania, and California.
Despite the dispersal, the highest concentration of individuals with the Heffern surname is still expected to be found in Ireland, specifically in areas around county Cork and its neighboring counties.
Variations of the surname Heffern
The surname Heffern is of Irish origin and there are several other variations of spelling for this last name. These include Heffernan, Hefferan, Hefferin, Heffernen, O’Heffernan, O'Heffern, and Hefernan.
It is originally derived from the Gaelic Ó hIfearnáin, which is a diminutive of 'ifearn', translating to 'demon'. Therefore, the surname’s original meaning could be interpreted as 'little demon'. The surname was primarily located in the province of Connacht, especially in County Clare and County Galway.
In certain cases, as with many Irish surnames, the surname might have been anglicized under British rule, leading to variant spellings. Also, when Irish immigrants moved to English-speaking countries such as the United States, the UK, Australia, or Canada, their surnames were often modified to match the phonetic spelling, giving rise to more variations of the original Irish surname.
Famous people with the name Heffern
- Jimmy Heffern: American former Major League Baseball player who played for the Chicago White Sox from 1965 to 1967.
- Fred Heffern: All-American football player for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 1948 to 1949.
- Tony Heffern: Former starting pitcher for the Oakland Athletics from 1973 to 1976.
- Edward Patrick Heffern: American rear admiral in the United States Navy who commanded the Naval Base Guam.
- Bobby Heffern: Professional football player who played four seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers from 1971 to 1974.
- Kevin Heffern: Lead vocalist of fighting Irish, a heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California.
- Ann Heffern: American judge and former interim mayor of the City of San Diego from 2005 to 2006.
- Alicia Heffern: American journalist who won a 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting.
- Kenneth Heffern: Former Head of the Chemistry Department at the University of vanguard in 2001.
- Brian Heffern: Golf course superintendent and entrepreneur from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.