Surname Hey - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering the Historical Tapestry of the Hey Surname through iGENEA DNA Analysis
Recently having my DNA analysis performed by iGENEA opened new chapters in the history of my family lineage. I discovered that my surname, Hey, is rooted deep in the historical fabric of the British Isles, with connections to both ordinary citizens and noble figures. The test not only enlightened me about my ancestral tapestry, but also made me realize how my past contributes to my identity today.
T. Hey
read moreHey: What does the surname Hey mean?
The last name Hey is of English origin and is thought to be a nickname deriving from the Middle English “hey”, meaning a “small gate”. It is likely that the original bearer of this surname lived near such a gate or received the nickname from their physical location.
The spelling of the surname, Hey, evolved over time and this is also reflected in the various dialects of the Middle English language. The spelling Hey was especially found in eastern areas of England such as Cumberland, Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland.
The Hey surname is now found primarily in England, with families of Hey concentrated in the East and South Midlands. It is also found in Scotland, with frequent wallpapers like Hay, Hee and MacHee..
The Hey family were important as early as the 12th century, when Richard le Hey was recorded in the Nottinghamshire County Court Rolls in 1150. Other notable bearers of the surname include Admiral Thomas Carlyon Heywood, Baron Hey of Chorley, and Sir Heywood John Broun, philosopher.
The Hey surname is thought to have derived from an old English nickname, with its root in Middle English “hey”, a small gate. Its variations in spelling are a result of the various dialects of the Middle English language, with the most common form of the name being Hey. Families of Hey are mainly found in Eastern and South Midlands of England, and to a lesser extent in Scotland. Its notable bearers include Admiral Thomas Carlyon Heywood, Baron Hey of Chorley, and Sir Heywood John Broun, philosopher. It has been in existence since the 12th century and is still carried today.
Order DNA origin analysisHey: Where does the name Hey come from?
The last name Hey is found today in many countries around the world. It is a German name typically found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, where it originated around the 14th century. It can also be found in other parts of Europe, including Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Denmark.
In the United States, the surname Hey is found mainly in the northeast, though there are a few scattered occurrences in other parts of the country. The vast majority of Hey family members in the United States today are the descendants of German immigrants who arrived in the nineteenth century.
Outside of Europe and the United States, the last name Hey is also found in large numbers in Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Uruguay. This is due to the large number of German settlers who moved to those countries from the 19th to the 20th century.
The Hey surname can also be found in parts of Africa, Asia and Australia, particularly in areas where German immigrants or their descendants migrated to in the twentieth century. Generally speaking, the Hey last name is quite common worldwide and is found in many countries with large populations of people of German heritage.
Variations of the surname Hey
The surname Hey is traditionally derived from the English surname, Heye. It is believed to originate from the Middle Age word "hey", which was a term used to describe a hedge or enclosure. In more recent centuries it has been used as a surname in the UK, US, Canada, and other parts of the Commonwealth.
The variants, spellings, and other surnames associated with Hey include Heye, Heigh, Heyd, Heyde, and Heydt. It can also appear as Heydy, Heydon, Heydorn, or Heyden. The diminutive forms of Heyd include Heydel, Heydle, Heydell, and Heydl.
Hey is also a common Dutch and German surname, though its spelling and variants may vary. Common Dutch variants include Heij, Heijden, Heijens, Heije, Heijes, Heijke, and Heijkens. Common German variants include Heiß, Heiße, Heyden, Heydemer, Heydorn, Heydrich, and Heyds.
In Scotland, the cross of Hey is a three-armed cross with pointed ends, which was featured as a coat of arms in the 18th century.
No matter a person's geographical location, any of these variants and spellings, as well as diminutive forms, may be associated with the surname Hey.
Famous people with the name Hey
- Richard Hey: Former Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
- David Hey: British Jazz drummer
- Alan Hey: English former professional footballer
- Mark Hey: British international track and field athlete
- Stephen Hey: British engineer, sculptor and broadcaster
- Stephen Heyburn: Australian lawyer and retired politician
- Bob Hey: American former basketball player
- Julian Hey: British television scriptwriter
- Jacob Hey: Canadian-born Bassist
- Alan Heyman: Founder of Mandorla Music
- Jana Hey: Belgian musical theater and television actress
- Ralph Hey: British motorcycle racer
- Patrick Hey: British former Member of Parliament
- Paul Hey: German international field hockey player
- Peter Hey: South African business executive