Surname Hernon - Meaning and Origin
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Hernon: What does the surname Hernon mean?
The last name Hernon is of Anglo-Irish origin, deriving from the ancient Gaelic name O'hOsnuine. The O' prefix in the name means "descendant.", referring to the family's lineage from a common ancestor.
The Hernon name is often associated with associates and descendants of the Tweahtooh Clan, Warriors of the O'Neill, a powerful Irish royal dynasty. The Gaelic spelling of the name is ‘O hOsnuine’, and the literal translation is "descendant of the one born of water".
The Hernon surname is found often in the County Donegal, Ireland today, which is the origin for it's occurrence in North America. The name is also found in England and Scotland.
The Hernons are traditionally associated with the province of Ulster, the ancient region of Ireland, for both their religion and with many significant contributions to the region. In the Irish language, the word "hernon" translates to ‘an ember in a hearth’, emphasizing the strong home and family associations with the name.
Overall, the name Hernon carries with it a strong sense of lineage and heritage that has been passed down through generations. Many of the descendants of this ancient name are spread across the globe, proud of their unique roots and the contributions the Hernon family has made throughout history.
Order DNA origin analysisHernon: Where does the name Hernon come from?
The last name Hernon was first found in Cumbria, an historic county of North West England bordered by Scotland, including the Lake District and Scottish Borders. In past centuries, the name has been scattered across the northern half of England and into Scotland. It has also made its way to North America by way of Belfast during the 17th-19th centuries, and later to Australia during the 19th century Gold Rush. Today, the last name Hernon is still mainly concentrated in the British Isles. It can primarily be found in England, where one out of every 1,344 people is estimated to carry the name. It is found in great numbers in counties such as Lancashire, Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Derbyshire. It has also spread across the border into Scotland, with one out of every 1,246 people in the country estimated to be a Hernon. In addition, the name can also be found in Canada, Australia, and the United States. In the United States, Hernon can mostly be found in the Midwest in states such as Arkansas and Illinois. Overall, the surname Hernon is not uncommon, though it is not as widespread as some other surnames. Despite its geographic spread, it is still largely concentrated in its homeland of Britain.
Variations of the surname Hernon
The surname Hernon has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants of the surname include Harmon, Heron, Hearn, Hearne, Hearneh, Hearnen, Hearmon, Hearnion, Herne, Hearin, Herring, Hern and Hurn.
The origin of the surname is believed to be of Gaelic or Norman-French origin meaning ‘destined to win’. Recordings from 1317 in 'Farbilhamshire, Oxfordshire' indicate that Walter Herne is one of the earliest known records of the surname.
The spelling and variants of the surname Hernon can also be found as Hearon, Hearnin, Herin, Hearran, Herran, Harron, Harran, Hernon, Harning, Harroning, and Harring. These variants are derived from different dialects, geographic locations, and spelling preferences of the original surname.
The way in which the surname is spelt can also change over time as families move about the country. For example, during the 17th Century, many people spell their surname as Hearnin, while in the 18th Century, many individuals from the brighton area of England choose to spell their surname as Heron.
Finally, it is important to note that the surname Hernon may also have been adopted by other families from another surname. Some of these surnames include Hern, Herne, Harran, Hernes, Hearneh and Hearns.
So while the surname Hernon may have originated with the abovementioned Gaelic or Norman-French root, it has grown to encompass several variant spellings and surnames of other, unrelated origins.
Famous people with the name Hernon
- John Hernon: an American actor who has appeared in many films and television series, such as Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Chicago P.D., and Lovecraft Country.
- Susan Hernon: a Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter best known for her work with acts such as Aerosmith, Poison, Billy Idol, and Cyndi Lauper.
- Michael Hernon: an American diplomat and a former Ambassador to Slovakia (2021-present).
- Sharon Hernon: a professional photographer best known for her extensive coverage of the Democratic Primary and Special Election campaigns in 2020.
- Pete Hernon: an American football player who played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1973-1979.
- Timothy Hernon: the Managing Director of U.S. Programs at the International Rescue Committee.
- Colin Hernon: an accomplished musician who has released several CDs and compilations of his original songs.
- David Hernon: a Major League Baseball pitcher from 2013-2014.
- Richard Hernon: an Irish writer and poet who was shortlisted for the International Man Booker Prize in 2017.
- Anthony Hernon: an internationally known journalist, broadcaster, and author, best known for his bookobject: An Object-Oriented Approach to Journalism (2014).