Surname Hennigan - Meaning and Origin
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Hennigan: What does the surname Hennigan mean?
The surname Hennigan is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name O’ hEanain, which initially means "descendant of Eanain". The name Eanain itself is believed to have elements that either mean ‘bird’ or ‘bird-like’ or it could be a diminutive of John, meaning "little John". It is commonly found in the areas of Mayo and Sligo in Ireland. This name belongs to the larger group of surnames that form part of Irish clan names and has diversified in its spelling over centuries, with variations including Hennegan, Hennaghan, and O’Hennigan among others.
Order DNA origin analysisHennigan: Where does the name Hennigan come from?
The surname Hennigan originates from Ireland. This surname is ultimately derived from the Gaelic personal name "Eoin," which is known as John in English. More specifically, Hennigan originates from the Gaelic ‘Oh Ionagain’ and this surname, frequently found in Connacht, confirms the pattern of ‘O’ or ‘Mac’an followed by a personal name.
The surname suggests a possible descent from a follower or descendant of a person named Ionagain, meaning "loving". This patronymic name became popular in the west of Ireland, primarily in the county of Mayo.
In present times, the surname Hennigan has spread beyond Ireland due to years of immigration. It is now found in various countries around the world, predominantly in English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. However, it's still common in its country of origin, Ireland, particularly in the regions where it originated.
Variations of the surname Hennigan
The surname Hennigan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Ó hAonghusáin" which means "descendant of Angus". It is primarily associated with the counties of Mayo and Sligo in the west of Ireland.
Variations, alternative spellings, and surnames of the same origin can include Henegan, Henigan, Hennegan, Hennigan, Hennegin, Hennigane, Henneghan, Heneghan, Hinegan, and ó hAonghusán.
There are also Anglicised versions of this name which includes variants like Hennessy, Henderson and Hynes. These names, although not specifically variants of Hennigan, share the same root "Angus".
Please note, variations in the spelling of Irish surnames are common due to Anglicization, phonetic spelling by English clerks or changes made by the family themselves. Even within a single document, the same person's surname could be spelled in several different ways. The same surname could also have arisen independently in different parts of the country, so two families with the name Hennigan may not necessarily be closely related.
It's also worth mentioning that many Irish names have regional variations. So, the common version of a surname in one part of Ireland might be less common or nonexistent in another.
Famous people with the name Hennigan
- John Hennigan: widely known under his ring name John Morrison, an American professional wrestler, actor, and professional wrestling producer.
- Charles A. Hennigan: an American electrical engineer, known as the "Father of Spread-Spectrum Communications”.
- Glenn Hennigan: an American actor, director, producer, and writer.
- Willie Hennigan: a former American football player who played as a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Dan Hennigan: an American baseball coach and former infielder and outfielder.
- Mike Hennigan: an American producer, director, and co-host of the television series American Chopper.
- Don Hennigan: a former musical theater actor and currently a singer and songwriter.
- William Hennigan: an artist and film co-founder of the California Motion Picture Company in Los Angeles.
- Donal Hennigan: an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays as a cornere back for the Dublin county team.
- Carol Hennigan: an English singer-songwriter and producer.