Surname O'Hickey - Meaning and Origin
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O'Hickey: What does the surname O'Hickey mean?
The last name O'Hickey is an anglicized version of the surname O hEochaidh, which is derived from the Gaelic element “eochaidh”, meaning “Horseman”. This was a common source of last names for early Irish nobility and warriors, reflecting their status as horse-riding warriors. The surname O'Hickey is typically associated with the County Cork area of Ireland, and was likely granted to someone following acts of bravery or some other notable accomplishment.
In modern times, having the surname O'Hickey usually refers only to descendants from a long history of Irish families, and more recently with those immigrating to other countries such as the United States or Canada due to the Great Irish immigration in the 1600s and 1700s. Those having the O'Hickey surname can be proud of their Irish heritage, embodying resilience and bravery that has resulted in lasting legacies and loyalty.
Today, O'Hickey is still a relatively common surname, and those who carry the name recognize the great history attached to it. As family legend goes, this surname was earned through generations of strong men who were committed to honor, justice, and protection of their clans. It symbolizes a level of respect, strength, and courage that was passed down through generations and is now shared with the global community.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Hickey: Where does the name O'Hickey come from?
The O’Hickey surname is commonly found in Ireland. Before the mid-19th century, many Irish surnames were only passed down through the male line, so only men could inherit surnames. By the mid-19th century, some people began using their mother's and father's surname together. This is why the O’Hickey name is not found in other countries.
In modern times, the O’Hickey surname is found most frequently in certain areas of Ireland. It is particularly common in the counties of county Cork, in the province of Munster, and County Donegal, in the province of Ulster.
As with many Irish surnames, O’Hickey can be found all around the world, with members of the family living in the US, Canada, and other countries as expatriates or immigrants. In some cases, the spelling of the surname may have been changed due to difficulty with the Gaelic spelling, so variants such as Hickey, O’Higgens, Higgens, and O’Higdon may also be encountered.
The O’Hickey surname is associated with the Irish diaspora, having long been carried from Ireland to other countries due to economic struggle and famine. It is estimated that there are currently around 1,500 people bearing the O’Hickey surname in Ireland and approximately another 1,500 in other countries.
Variations of the surname O'Hickey
The last name O'Hickey is an Irish surname, which is an Anglicization of the Gaelic surname Ó hÍcí, which means “descendant of Ící”. Ící was an ancient personal name meaning “houndlike” or “harmless”.
Variants of the surname O'Hickey include O'Hicke, O'Hiickey, O'Hickey, O'Hicke, Hickey, Hickie, Hikie, and Hickye. Spellings of the name range from conventional to creative: O’Hickey, O'Hickey, O'Hicky, O'Hicke, O'Hiickey, O'Hiicke, Hickey, Hickey', Hickie, Hicki, Hickee, Hickee', Hikie, and Hikye.
Irish variations of the O'Hickey surname can also be encountered, including Mac Ící, MacIci, MacIkie, MacIky, MacHicky, MacHickie, and MacHickee. There is also at least one variant spelling in Scotland, as the surname used to be found there, too: McIkye.
Additionally, there are numerous derivatives of the O'Hickey surname, including Hicke, Hickel, Hickell, Hickau, Hickan, Hicken, Hickenbottom, Hickenbotom, Hickenloop, Hickinbotham, Hicklen, Hickman, Hickmann, Hicks, Hicksel, Hicox, Hixenbottom, Hycke, Hickey, Hickii, Hickcox, Hickkott, Hickmott, and Hicorn.
In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the last name O'Hickey. Families descended from an Irish ancestor by this name will likely find at least one of these variations applies to their own family name.
Famous people with the name O'Hickey
- Jake O'Hickey: an American professional ice hockey player for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League.
- Tom O'Hickey: a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League during the 1930s.
- Mark O'Hickey: an Irish professional footballer who plays for Bray Wanderers in the League of Ireland. 4.Johnny O'Hickey: an Irish traditional musician, playing a range of instruments including the fiddle, bodhran, concertina, and flute.
- John O'Hickey: an Irish politician who served as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath East from 1977 to 1981.
- Liam O'Hickey: a Bermudian professional football player who currently plays for the Jersey Flegg Cup team, the Melbourne Storm.
- Darran O'Hickey: an Irish American director and editor with many credits in Film and Television.
- Donal O'Hickey: an Irish retired Gaelic footballer who played as a midfielder for the Cork senior team.
- Kader O'Hickey: an English born artist and activist, is the founder of the Industrial Faction of Fetishism and the Body Modification Tribe.
- Tim O'Hickey: an American professional wrestler best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during the mid-1990s.