Surname Hilferty - Meaning and Origin
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Hilferty: What does the surname Hilferty mean?
The surname Hilferty is of Gaelic origin and is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó hEilfride, which was derived from the personal name Ó hAilefridhe (also Ó hAlmhfhridhe or Ó hAinlipridhe), meaning 'descendant of Ailfridh'. Ailfridh was an early medieval personal name which was composed of the elements aile, meaning 'noble', and frith, meaning 'peace'.
Hilferty is a surname mainly found among Irish-Americans and Canadians. It is thought to have first been adopted in the 13th century by descendants of families who were of the ancient Gaelic septs. Still found mainly in Ireland, the surname is also common among Irish emigrants to the United States, Canada and England.
Today, the surname Hilferty is recognized as a variation of the Irish surname Ó hAilfridhe, and it can often be found associated with different spellings such as Helferty, Alfrid, Hilfrid, Hilfert, O'Helferty and Helfride. This surname is usually associated with the counties of Wexford and Kilkenny in the province of Leinster in Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisHilferty: Where does the name Hilferty come from?
The last name Hilferty is most commonly found in Ireland today. According to the records of the 1864- alphabetical index compiled by Patrick Woulfe, it is believed that the name originated in the Irish county of Cork.
The Hilferty family dates back to the 1500s, when the family name was spelled "Hilfarty". The spelling was later changed to "Hilferty" and the name has been in use ever since.
The Hilferty name is still quite common in Ireland today, especially in Cork, where the family originally originated. There are several clans located in the area, the most prominent being the O’Hilfertys of Rathowen.
The Hilferty name is also present in the United States, where many Irish immigrants arrived in the late 1700s and 1800s and set up small Irish communities. The name can be found throughout the United States, particularly on the East Coast and California.
The Hilferty name is most commonly associated with Ireland and Cork, but it is also present in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. In addition, Hilferty is a common surname in other parts of Europe, particularly in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
Variations of the surname Hilferty
Hilferty is an Irish surname of Anglo-Norman origin meaning "stern branch". The variants and alternate spellings for the surname include Hilferti, Hilfertie, Hilfert, Helfertie, and Helfaty. Additional surnames of the same origin include Delap, Delapp, Delapper, Delauter, Delep, de la P, Delapatte, Delappe, Delaport, Delapperty, Delapotter, Delassater, and Deslauriers.
The variations in the spellings of the Hilferty surname can often be attributed to the migration of families to other countries and how they adapted to the language of the local community they were living in. The accuracy of records and record keeping practices at the time of entry into a new country can also contribute to the variations in spelling. Additionally, some individuals may have changed their surname in order to disguise their heritage for personal or political reasons.
The variations in the spellings of the Hilferty surname can be affected by illiteracy, language barriers, the difficulty in translation from non-English languages, and the lack of both national and international standardization of spellings at the time of migration. In certain instances, name change can actually be attributed primarily to surnames being spelled incorrectly in documents such as birth certificates, immigration records, and census records. This happened quite frequently due to the difficulty in correctly transcribing foreign-sounding family names into English.
Famous people with the name Hilferty
- Ryan Hilferty: former professional soccer player
- James Hilferty: American stage and television actor
- Brian Hilferty: award-winning documentary director
- Greg Hilferty: former running back and wide receiver in the Canadian Football League
- Steve Hilferty: former professional American football linebacker
- Tom Hilferty: former professional soccer player
- Mike Hilferty: former professional basketball player
- Patrick Hilferty: former professional football player
- Tim Hilferty: professional ice hockey player
- Dan Hilferty: American business executive