Surname O'Hosey - Meaning and Origin
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O'Hosey: What does the surname O'Hosey mean?
The last name O'Hosey is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name "O'hOsighe". It is an ancient Irish name originally belonging to a prominent family in ancient Ireland. The family are believed to have descended from a 10th century Chief of the Ui Fiachra of Kingdom of Ossory in Leinster.
The name O'Hosey literally translates to "descendant of Osighe", where "Osighe" purportedly comes from the Irish word "Os" meaning "deer". It is speculated that the name could have originally referenced to an ancestor of the O'Hosey family who had some sort of relationship or affinity towards deer.
In modern day Ireland, the name O'Hosey is fairly uncommon. The O'Hoseys are believed to have been reduced in numbers during the Irish Civil War during the mid-1920s. Many of those that remain are thought to be settled in the province of Leinster.
The legacy of the O'Hosey family is kept alive by a few descendants, and, although not common, the name is still seen to be used in some places. The O'Hoseys have made their mark on the Irish culture and as such will remain part of Ireland's history forever.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Hosey: Where does the name O'Hosey come from?
The last name O'Hosey is most commonly associated with Ireland, though it is less common outside of the Emerald Isle. According to the Irish Times, there are only about 230 people in the entire world with the last name O'Hosey. The majority of those people are located in the Republic of Ireland, primarily in County Cork. Most of the O'Hoseys living in Ireland are concentrated in the town of Buttevant, located just north of Cork City.
In the United States, the last name O'Hosey can be found in Irish-American communities, particularly on the east coast. Family names are often carried along with immigrants when they move to another continent, and the O'Hosey name is no exception. It has been documented in southern states such as Georgia and Virginia, and also in northern states such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The O'Hosey name can also be found in other parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and even as far as South Africa. It's likely that these individuals have ancestors who immigrated from Ireland, and have carried the name forward from there.
The relatively small number of people with the O'Hosey name likely stems from it being a variant of another more common surname, O'Hossey. As O'Hosey was a variant spelling, it has become quite rare over time.
Variations of the surname O'Hosey
The surname O'Hosey is an Anglicized version of the Irish surname Ó hEodhasa, which originated in County Clare. This Irish surname is usually found in the form of O’Hosey or O'Hosey in the English-speaking world, or the modernized O’Hehir in the southern part of the country. Variants that have been found include O’Heisighe and Hoosey, as well as the more recently changed Hosey, Howezy, Howes and Howe.
The O'Hosey family is an old Irish hereditary family direct from Co. Clare. Some of the variant spellings of the surname historically include Hehir, Heisighe, Hoosy, Hosie, Hosey, Howezy, Howes, Howe, O'Hehir and O'Heisighe. The family is believed to be descended from one of the seven sons of Eoghan, son of Oilill Olum, a King of Munster in the third century A.D.
The O'Hosey surname is still common in Ireland, although it is found most commonly in counties Clare and Galway. It is believed to be the 469th most common last name in Ireland. There are some families who have changed the spelling of the name to Hosey in an effort to assimilate into American culture in the 19th century.
In other English-speaking countries such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, the O'Hosey surname has also been found, and is still commonly used today.
In conclusion, the O'Hosey surname is an anglicized version of the old Gaelic Irish name Ó hEodhasa. Variants of this surname can include O'Hehir, O'Heisighe, Hoosey, Hosey, Howezy, Howes, Howe, O'Hosey, Hehir, Heisighe, Hoosy, Hosie and Hosie. This surname was once very common in Ireland, and is now still common in English-speaking countries around the world.
Famous people with the name O'Hosey
- Austin O'Hosey: Irish golfer who has competed in several European Tour events
- Eimear O'Hosey: Irish actress known for her roles in Love/Hate, Red Rock, and The Fall
- Marie O'Hosey: Irish writer and poet
- Orlaith O'Hosey: Irish journalist and environmental activist
- Todd O'Hosey: American actor and singer, appeared on Broadway in Grease and the original Sweeney Todd
- Conor O'Hosey: Irish-born composer and producer, known for composing original music for Netflix's The Crown
- Stephen O'Hosey: Irish professional snowboarder, competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi
- Terry O'Hosey: former American football offensive lineman with the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs
- Damien O'Hosey: Irish saxophonist and composer, member of renowned jazz-funk band FunkyMa
- James O'Hosey: American actor, appeared in numerous films and television shows, including The Walking Dead, Grey's Anatomy, and Glee