Surname Henchie - Meaning and Origin
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Henchie: What does the surname Henchie mean?
The last name Henchie is of Ulster-Scots origin, most likely derived from the Gaelic name Mac An Fhinnigh, meaning "son of the fair one." It is believed that the Ulster Scots took on the surname when they arrived in Ulster from Scotland.
Origins for the surname Henchie are primarily found in Northern Ireland, with distribution across the globe. The earliest documented instances of the name occur in the Ulster Census of 1659, where it is listed as Henchy and Hinchey. By the 18th century, the name had been changed to Hancher.
The families bearing the name Henchie are concentrated in the counties of Antrim, Donegal, Derry, and Fermanagh in Ulster, but also in counties downstream of these areas in Ireland, including Cavan and Monaghan. The name is also found in Scotland and particularly in parts of Northern England.
Early records of the Henchie name include William Henchie, a loyalist from Belfast during the 16th century; Christopher Henchie, a soldier during the US Revolutionary War; and John and William Henchie, potato farmers from Belfast during the mid-19th century. The name is also famously represented among the Irish diaspora in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In essence, the surname Henchie is a symbol of the Ulster-Scots peoples and their descendents, of their history and of their resilience. Those that share the surname can look upon it with pride, knowing that it represents a part of who they are, of their roots, and of their shared journey.
Order DNA origin analysisHenchie: Where does the name Henchie come from?
The surname Henchie appears to be of Irish origin. It seems to be a variant of the surname Hennessy, which is derived from the old Gaelic name O'hAonghusa or O'Hanghusa, meaning 'descendant of Angus'. Angus is a personal name equivalent to the English name 'one choice'. This surname was first found in County Offaly, where the family held a family seat from ancient times. The name was quite common in the country particularly in the regions of Munster and Leinster.
Today, the surname Henchie is not very common and is somewhat scattered across the globe. A quick internet search suggests that there are people with this surname in the United States, but it does not seem to be significantly common or concentrated in any one particular region. It's possible that the surname has been Americanized over centuries, making it difficult to track its presence. As with many surnames, its distribution could be influenced by various factors such as migration and naturalization of people bearing this surname.
Variations of the surname Henchie
The surname Henchie is quite uncommon and finding direct variants can be quite hard. However, it seems to be of Irish origin. Similar surnames of Irish origin might include Hennessy, Henrich, Hendrick, Hendrie, or Heneghan. Other variations possibly related to Henchie might include spellings like Henchy or Henchi, albeit these are not widely recognized versions of the name. Sometimes last names can have misspellings due to errors in records, so variants you might find could include Henshie, Henchee, and Henchey.
This surname could potentially be anglicized from a Gaelic version, as many Irish names have been. Unfortunately, it is quite challenging to definitively determine all the variants, spellings, or surnames of the same origin without more historical and genealogical records. To unearth more possibilities and confirm these hypotheses, one could start with professional genealogical research or DNA testing services.
Famous people with the name Henchie
- Moira Henchie: a Scottish actress well known for her roles in TV series such as 'Peep Show' and 'The Bill'
- Siobhan Henchie: a Scottish actress who has worked on a number of television shows such as 'Skins' and 'Doctors'
- Brian Henchie: an Irish actor who has appeared in a number of films including 'King Arthur'
- Jeffrey Henchie: an American actor known for his appearances in such films as 'Cheaper by the Dozen' and 'The Guardian'
- Bruce Henchie: a British actor who is best known for his role in the BBC comedy series 'Miranda'
- Paddy Henchie: a British actor who has starred in a number of films and television programmes, including 'Dalziel and Pascoe' and 'Jam and Jerusalem'
- Robyn Henchie: an Australian actress who has appeared in films such as 'My Mother Frank' and 'Moulin Rouge'
- Mark Henchie: a Canadian actor who is known for his roles in films such as 'Two for the Money' and 'Oceans 11'
- Helen Henchie: a British actress who has starred in a number of television series including 'The Bill' and 'Coronation Street'
- Ingrid Henchie: a Norwegian actress who has appeared in films such as 'Kitty and the Bagman' and 'Elling.'