Surname O'Henry - Meaning and Origin
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O'Henry: What does the surname O'Henry mean?
The last name O'Henry is a variation of the Irish surname O’hEidhin or O'Heney, derived from the Gaelic name Ó hEidhin. It is believed to have originated in the County Clare region of Ireland. The Irish word Ó means ‘descendant of’ and Eidhin comes from the Gaelic word 'eidheann' or 'eadhainn', which means ‘ivy’.
The O'Henry surname was commonly found throughout the Munster area of Ireland, but was most often found in Counties Clare and Tipperary. The Addamstown Parish Records show that in the 1700s, a large number of O'Henrys had immigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania.
The name O'Henry was not used as a first name until the 1880s, when American author William Sydney Porter, who adopted the pseudonym O. Henry, made it a popular choice. His many short stories earned him the title of the ‘master of surprise endings’, and his influence continues today.
The Irish version of the name, O'hEidhin or O'Heney, is still used in Ireland today, while the Americanized version, helped popularize the name in the United States. Many Irish Americans have since taken the last name to honor their Irish heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Henry: Where does the name O'Henry come from?
The last name O'Henry is an Irish-American surname most commonly found in the United States. O'Henry derives from the Irish "O'hAonghusa," which translated from the Irish Gaelic means "descendant of Aonghus" or "descendant of Aonghuis." The last name is most common in Southern states such as Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia, and Texas has the highest population of O'Henrys in the United States.
O'Henrys also have a strong presence in larger cities, particularly on the East Coast. In the New York City area, O'Henrys are particularly populous in Jersey City and Brooklyn. In the Washington, D.C. area, they are especially numerous in Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax County. While the overall population of O'Henrys is not overly large, they are a part of the larger fabric of American society, representing this iconic Irish-American family in numerous cities around the US.
Variations of the surname O'Henry
The surname O'Henry is derived from an Irish root, meaning "grandson of Henry". It is sometimes spelled O'Henning, O'Henery, Heening, Henning, Hennery, or Henry. Variants of the surname vary by geographical location, with some being rarer than others.
The most common variants of the surname O'Henry are O'Henning, O'Henry, Henning, and Henry. O'Henning is an Irish version of the surname, and Henry is the Anglicized version. The Irish versions of the surname all have the prefix “O”, meaning "grandson of", and the name they all originate from is Henry.
In other variations, the O' or Ó prefix is replaced by an Mc or Mac prefix, which changes the meaning of the surname to "son of," rather than "grandson of." McHenry and MacHenry are examples of this variation.
In Scotland, the surname O'Henry is sometimes spelled Henery or Ellesmere. Although the connections to O'Henry are obscure, it is possible they stem from a Scottish-Gaelic form of the name.
Depending on the region, the variations can be spelled differently. For instance, Henning is common in parts of Germany, while Hennery is more common in Northern Ireland.
In rare cases, variations can be found with the prefix Fitz-, meaning "son of. Columbia records of the United States of America list FitzHenry, Fithian, Fichten, Fichter, Fickel, Fickelman and Frechen among these less common O'Henry variants.
In sum, the surname O'Henry is derived from the Irish name "Henry". Its variants vary by geographical location, and include O'Henning, O'Henry, Henning, Henry, McHenry, MacHenry, Henery, and Ellesmere, among others.
Famous people with the name O'Henry
- William Sydney Porter, most famously known as O. Henry, was an American short story writer best known for his witty and ironic stories.
- Nancy O'Henry, the daughter of O. Henry, was an actress in the 1940s and 1950s.
- Cork O’Henry, known by his broadcasting career moniker ‘Corky’, was an American country and bluegrass musician.
- Chris O’Henry, a Canadian basketball player, played and studied during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
- Laura O’Henry, former deputy mayor of Dublin, is a noted Irish political figure.
- Mike O’Henry, an American video game developer, co-founded the company ‘Naughty Dog, Inc.’
- Jimmy O’Henry, an American Jazz musician, played saxophone and clarinet in numerous clubs across New Orleans.
- Richard O’Henry, a US Army veteran, was a recognized historical figure of the Vietnam War.
- Bob O’Henry, a swimming icon, held several US records for the 400 medley relay and 800 freestyle.
- Phillip O’Henry, an American film actor, was most recognized for his roles in television shows and movies of the 1930s.