Surname Hegarty - Meaning and Origin

Hegarty: What does the surname Hegarty mean?

The last name Hegarty is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Eachaird or Mac Eachdhruaidh. The name translates to mean “son of the horse lord” and it refers to a family that had a hereditary horse-breeding tradition.

The older versions of the surname are found in several areas around Ireland, most prominently in counties Clare, Kerry, Cork and Limerick. The spelling of the name often changes through generations as the Irish dialect shifts. Some alternative spellings of Hegarty are Hegerty, Hegarty, Hegart, and Hegarthy.

The 2018 Irish census records show that Hegarty had the most common version of the surname with 809 individuals registered. As such, it is one of the most common surnames in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Hegartys have spread all around the world, with the name being especially prominent in Australia, the United States, and Canada. In the United States, the name is often pronounced as “HAY-GAR-TEE”, and with the Canadian “hay-gar-TYE”.

The Hegarty surname has a proud heritage that dates back centuries and the family’s extensive history of horse-breeding tradition. Those who carry the last name should be proud of their Irish ancestry and the accomplishments of their generations before them.

Hegarty: Where does the name Hegarty come from?

Hegarty is a surname most commonly found throughout Ireland and amongst those of Irish descent. It is derived from the old Irish family Gaelic name “Mac Egaire”, which is the patronymic equivalent of the surname Hegarty.

In Ireland, Hegarty is the most commonly found in the northern province of Ulster from the area of Donegal to the Belfast area. It is one of the most frequent surnames in many of the counties of Donegal, Fermanagh, Antrim, Armagh, Londonderry, Tyrone, Monaghan and Sligo.

Outside of Ireland, the surname is common among those of Irish descent in the United Kingdom, North America and Australia. The United Kingdom has the largest population of Hegartys outside of Ireland as is the case with many other Irish surnames. In the United States, the states of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, California and Texas have the highest concentrations of Hegartys.

In recent times, the surname has become more widely dispersed outside of Ireland and is now found in many different countries and regions around the world. In Canada, Hegarty is most commonly found in the provinces of Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. In Australia, Hegarty is one of the most frequently found names and is especially common in the southern states of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.

Overall, Hegarty is a surname commonly found in many parts of the world today including Ireland, the United Kingdom, North America, Canada, Australia and other countries. It is believed to have descended from the Old Gaelic name MacEgaire.

Variations of the surname Hegarty

Hegarty is a surname of Irish origin that is derived from the Gaelic "O hEigceartaigh," which translates to “descendant of Eigceartach.” This quite often Anglicized to its modern spelling, which is Hegarty. Some of the other variants and surnames of the same origin include Heagarty, Hegart, Heggarty, Heggerty, Hegary, Hegarty, Hegerity, Hegherty, Higarty, Haggerty and Kaggerty.

Hegarty can also be spelled Heagarty, which may come from the Gaelic given name Eagarthaigh, and is a variant of the name Hegarty. Another variant is Heggarty, which comes from the older Irish form "O'hEadhghearcaigh." Heggerty, which has been used interchangeably with Hegarty, likely comes from the Old Gaelic "O'hEaghartaigh," which means “one descended from Eaghartach.”

Hegary and Hegerity are other variants of Hegarty that are also related to the Gaelic given name Eigceartach. Hegherty, though often associated with the Catholic "O'Hegarty," is also another spelling of Hegarty. Higarty is a variant of Hegarty, and likely comes from the Gaelic "O hEidhceartaigh."

Kaggerty is another variant of Hegarty. It may be a variation of Hegarty, or alternatively it could come from the anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac an Ghearailt, which means “son of the wrestler.” Finally, Haggerty is another variant of Hegarty, and likely originates from the 18th century Irish name "O Heagartaigh."

Famous people with the name Hegarty

• Don Hegarty: Irish comedian and presenter
• Mike Hegarty: Irish Gaelic football player who played for Mayo
• Steven Hegarty: Irish politician
• Alfred Hegarty: Irish trade unionist
• Karen Hegarty: American fashion designer
• Niall Hegarty: Irish actor
• Declan Hegarty: Musician and vocalist
• John Hegarty: Irish fashion photographer
• Paul Hegarty: British actor
• Padraic Hegarty: Irish poet, playwright, novelist, and essayist
• Siobhan Hegarty: Irish badminton player
• Ryan Hegarty: Northern Ireland footballer
• Brendan Hegarty: Australian rules footballer
• Robert Hegarty: British Army Officer
• Shane Hegarty: Irish children’s author

Other surnames

HaachHaackHaackeHaackerHaafHaaffHaagHaageHaagenHaagerHaagmannHaagmansHaagnerHaahsHaakHaakeHaakerHaakertHaamannHaameaHaanHaaneHaanenHaarbrandtHaarckeHaarkeHaarmannHaartjeHaarwaldtHaas