Surname O'Healey - Meaning and Origin
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O'Healey: What does the surname O'Healey mean?
The last name O'Healey is an Irish surname. It is originally derived from the Gaelic surname O héilidh, meaning descendant of Healey.
Healey is a diminutive form of the Irish name Ailill, meaning "noble" or "greatchief"; a common personal name in early Irish history.
O’Healey (O héilidh) was a sept or clan in Ireland in the early Gaelic era. The O'Healeys were a prominent branch of the Corca Laoidhe, an ancient county located in what is now southeastern County Cork.
The O’Healeys held some of the most powerful positions in the kingdom of Desmond, ruling the area from their castle at Rosscarbery. Their position of influence and authority persisted through the decline of Norman control in Ireland, and they were still a powerful force in the late 16th century.
Today, the O'Healey name can still be found in County Cork where it's mostly concentrated. People with the O'Healey last name generally use it to remain connected with their Irish ancestry and history.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Healey: Where does the name O'Healey come from?
The last name O’Healey is most common among people of Irish descent in the United States, Canada, and England. It is also found throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other parts of the world with Irish ancestry.
The O'Healey surname is most likely from the Ireland and Scotland borderlands. It likely developed from the Gaelic name O hEalaighthe meaning “descendant of Ealaighthe”, a personal name composed of the Old Irish elements eallach meaning “high” and aidh meaning “ascent”.
Before coming to the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the O'Healey's lived in both Ireland and Scotland. Since arriving in America, the O'Healey's have dispersed throughout the country with some of them establishing roots in the Midwest, Northeast and South.
Today, the O'Healey name is most prevalent in California and New York, the two states with the largest Irish-American populations. Other states with a large population of O'Healey's include Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, and Florida.
The O'Healey name is especially pleasing to view on headstones in the U.S., especially in cemeteries in the midwest and Northeast. From Honolulu, Hawaii to Portland, Maine and all stops in between, the O'Healey's are unmistakably present in many places.
Variations of the surname O'Healey
The O'Healey surname has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variations include the original Gaelic spelling of the name, Ó h-Ailithir, which can also be seen spelled as O'Haily, O'Hailley, O'Ailithir, O'Hailie, and Ailithir.
The variations of the name can also be seen spelled with various combinations of the letters ‘H’ and ‘A’, such as Healey, Haley, Hallie and Hely. A further variation of the surname can be seen as Healy, which is the most popular spelling of this name in Ireland and England today.
Variants of the O'Healey surname can also be seen composed in the anglicized spelling of Haly or Halley. This variant is more commonly found in Scotland, although O'Healey is a name of Irish origin.
The surnames of the same origin can be traced back to the ancient Irish Gaelic family from County Galway. The ancient Irish spelling of the name was Ó h-Ailithir, which literally translates as descendant of Ailithir, the grandson of the 11th century Strongbow, an Anglo-Norman Lord who acquired large estates in Ireland.
Another variant of this surname, Hallie, can be seen in the modern-day organization Clan Hallie which aims to keep a record of the descendants of the O'Healey surname.
Today, the O'Healey surname is especially popular throughout Ireland, England, Scotland, Australia, and the USA. It is a common surname among Irish settlement in these countries as many of them migrated in search of a better life.
Famous people with the name O'Healey
- Siobhan O'Healey: Former professional field hockey player from Ireland
- Thomas O'Healey: Actor and playwright based in Australia
- Peter O'Healey: Senior data journalist for the BBC
- Mark O'Healey: English mountain biker
- Ruth O'Healey: Columnist and commentator for national and local media
- Joseph O'Healey: Special effects artist who has worked on films such as "The Water Horse" and "Guardians of the Galaxy"
- Peadar O'Healey: Irish fiddle player
- Bernie O'Healey: Singer and songwriter from Liverpool
- Joe O'Healey: Radio presenter for BBC Radio Tees
- Bryan O'Healey: Jazz trumpeter
- Daire O'Healey: Irish rugby player
- David O'Healey: Investigative journalist for Sky News 13. Pádraig O'Healey: Irish footballer
- Kieran O'Healey: Voice actor who has credits in multiple video games
- Dave O'Healey: Professional parkour athlete
- Bréanainn O'Healey: Television and radio producer
- Cliona O'Healey: Irish actress
- John O'Healey: Irish business leader 19.Tara O'Healey: Irish actress
- Cahir O'Healey: Professional boxer from Ireland