Surname Heaney - Meaning and Origin

Heaney: What does the surname Heaney mean?

The surname Heaney is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "O hEighnigh." This is a patronymic name formed from a personal name or occupation. The "O" in the Gaelic form means "descendant of," denoting lineage. The second component, "Eighnigh," is considered to be derived from "each," which means "horse" and "Donn," meaning "brown." Therefore, it can be interpreted as "descendant of the horse rider" or "descendant of the brown horse." Others suggest it could mean "descendant of the horse lord or horse master." Like many Irish surnames, the original Gaelic form has undergone a series of transformations over centuries, eventually resulting in the more anglicized version we see today as "Heaney". Famous bearers of this surname include the late Seamus Heaney, an Irish poet, playwright, and translator who received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Heaney: Where does the name Heaney come from?

The last name Heaney is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "O hEighnigh" which translates to "descendant of Eighneach" - a personal name that means ‘forceful’ or ‘vehement’. The Heaney family was part of the ancient kingdom of Oirghialla (or Oriel), located in the Ulster region of Ireland, covering parts of modern-day counties Monaghan, Armagh, and Fermanagh.

Today, the last name Heaney is most commonly found in Northern Ireland, particularly in counties Derry and Tyrone. However, due to Irish emigration, it is also fairly widespread in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Accomplished members of the Heaney lineage include the late Seamus Heaney, a renowned poet and playwright from Northern Ireland who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995.

Variations of the surname Heaney

The surname Heaney is an anglicized version of the Irish name "O’hEighnigh." It originated from the branch of Cenél nEoghain who were the descendants of Eoghan, the son of the Irish legendary hero, Niall of the Nine Hostages. This group later established themselves in the northwestern region of Ireland.

While it is mainly recognised as Heaney, there are other variants in spelling due to transliteration and the phonetic sound of the name. These variant spellings include O’Heaney, Hainey, Hanney, Hayney, and Heenie.

In addition, the surname Heaney has several other surnames of the same origin due to the way it has been passed down and varied across different regions and families. Some of these similar surnames originating from "O’hEighnigh" include O’Haney, O'Haney, Henea, and Hena, among others.

It's important to note that discrepancies and variations in spellings have occurred due to the absence of any definite spelling rules in early centuries. For instance, medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, leading to many variations of the same name.

Famous people with the name Heaney

• Seamus Heaney: An Irish poet, playwright, and translator recognized as one of the principal contributors to poetry during the second half of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995.
• Pat Heaney: A former footballer from Northern Ireland who played as a center-half in the Irish Football League with Glenavon and Newry Town.
• Andrew Heaney: An American professional baseball pitcher who has played MLB for teams such as the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees.
• Gerald Heaney: An American jurist who served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
• Sheila Heaney: An Irish actress known for her roles in TV series like The Tudors and Fair City.
• Marie Heaney: An Irish author and the wife of poet Seamus Heaney. She’s known for her collections of ancient Irish myths and legends.
• Margaret Heaney: A Canadian retired female rower who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
• Michael Heaney: An American documentary filmmaker known for his work on films like “In the Year of the Pig” and “F.T.A”.
• Wayne Heaney: Known as "Casper", Heaney is an English footballer who played as a defender.
• Brídín Brennan: (Née Heaney) an Irish singer-songwriter best known as a member of the family band, Clannad.

Other surnames

Heaner