Surname Hiffernane - Meaning and Origin
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Hiffernane: What does the surname Hiffernane mean?
The Irish surname Hiffernane is derived from two Gaelic Irish surnames, Ó hUidhrín and Ó Faolchú. The former of these is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic Ó hUidhrín, which is derived from the personal name Uidhrín, whilst the latter is an Anglicized version of Ó Faolchú, which is derived from the personal name Faolchú.
The root of the name Uidhrín is thought to be the Old Celtic dru-widhri- meaning "oak-knower" or "wood-seer". Whilst Faolchú derives from the Irish word faolchú, meaning "wolf".
Overall, the root of the surname Hiffernane suggests a strong connection to knowledge, cunning and wisdom associated with the forests and the wild. It is likely that these qualities were seen as important among the family who adopted the name, and were reflective of their standing within the community.
In modern times, the surname Hiffernane is found mostly in Munster and Connacht across Ireland. The variant names of Hufternan, Hufternane, Hommelane and O'Hufternane are also found.
Order DNA origin analysisHiffernane: Where does the name Hiffernane come from?
The last name Hiffernane is a very uncommon one, and research indicates that its use is mainly concentrated in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Ireland, the name appears in Counties Cork, Mayo, Kilkenny, Wexford, and Carlow, with more limited occurrences in other parts of the country. In the UK, the name is mainly found in the northwest region of England, particularly near the Lancashire-Merseyside border.
The history of the name Hiffernane is somewhat mysterious, but it’s likely of Irish origin. It appears in records as far back as the 17th century, when its pronunciation was more like “Hiffranan”. One speculation is that it originated as a diminutive of the Irish surname “Ui Fhearghain”, meaning “descendant of Fhearghain”. Fhearghain was a Gaelic first name, derived from the phrase “We Fearghuis”, which means “man of the forests”.
Many of those who carry the name Hiffernane today are likely related to the original family. But as the name has been in circulation for centuries, there could be some unrelated individuals with the same moniker as well.
Aside from the UK and Ireland, it’s quite rare to find families with the name Hiffernane elsewhere. The name has been recorded in various other countries, including the United States, Canada, India, and Australia, but the incidence in those places is quite low compared to its prevalence in the British Isles.
Variations of the surname Hiffernane
Surname Hiffernane is a variant of the Irish and English surname Hiffernan, which is derived from the Old Gaelic name Ó hIfearnáin, ultimately meaning “descendant of Ifearnán". This surname was originally used by a number of clans in the western part of Ireland, with most families originating from County Galway, and others found in County Mayo, Clare, and Sligo. It is also found in County Limerick, and in England.
Variations of the surname Hiffernane include the more anglicized Hiffernan, Heffernan/Hefferman, O'Hiffernan, O'Hifferan, Haffernan, Haffernane, Hufferan, Hofferan, O'Hoffernan, Huffernan, Huffernane, as well as Huffernen and Hofferin. In western Ireland, the variant spellings of the surname are particularly common. It is also spelled as Hifferonan, Ifernani, Offernan, OIfearnane, Oifferan and Oifferonan.
The variant Hiffernane may appear in some records as Hifferneane, Hifferanane, Heiffernean, Heifferneane, Hiefernane, Hiefirneane, Hieferneane, or Hiffirneane. In some cases, it may also appear as Hiffernme or Hiffernan.
The variants of the surname Hiffernane are generally interchangeable, and all refer to the same Gaelic originated name. The various variants may be used both to identify a person of Irish descent, or to denote an individual's connection to a specific area of Ireland.
Famous people with the name Hiffernane
- Rikki Hiffernane: an Australian author who has written 'The Maverick's Redemption'.
- Myles Hiffernane: a former Australian footballer who played in the A-League for the Central Coast Mariners.
- Liam Hiffernane: an Irish singer and actor who released two albums.
- Paddy Hiffernane: a former Irish rugby union and league player who represented Connacht in the 1970s.
- Anita Hiffernane: an Australian actress best known for her roles in Bellbird, A Country Practice and All Saints.
- Tim Hiffernane: an Australian middle-distance runner who competed in the intro men's 800m race at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
- Mark Hiffernane: an Australian swimmer who competed in the men's 200m butterfly at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
- Christopher Hiffernane: an Australian musician and songwriter best known for the hit song “Good Time Girl”.
- John Hiffernane: an Austrian actor who appeared in several films and television shows.
- Fred Hiffernane: an American actor and director who directed several films throughout his career.