Surname O'Heffron - Meaning and Origin
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O'Heffron: What does the surname O'Heffron mean?
The last name O'Heffron is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name Ó hIfearnáin, an old Irish family name meaning "descendant of Ifearnáin".
The original Irish name Ifearnáin may likely be derived from the Gaelic words "ifear," meaning “shire” or “division,” and "náin," meaning “little.” This phrase interprets to mean “inhabitant of the small shire,” or “inhabitant of the little division” and refers to one who came from a small and localized area of the country.
The O'Heffron family likely originated in the region of Co Longford, in the western province of Leinster, where records indicate the family held lands as early as the 13th century. As was common with Anglo-Norman families, many of the O'Heffron family members were granted titles of nobility for their military and political service throughout Ireland.
Today, people of Irish descent bearing the O'Heffron family name are spread across the globe. Although they may be from varied backgrounds, they all get to share a common ancestral history of their roots in the Emerald Isle.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Heffron: Where does the name O'Heffron come from?
The surname O’Heffron is an anglicised form of the Irish Ó hAodha/Ó hEifreáin which derives from the first name Aodh. This name is still found in Ireland today, particularly in the eastern counties of Longford, Offaly and Meath.
The O’Heffron family name originally derived from the Irish kingdom of Breifne in the province of Connacht, before spreading south into the midlands. During the Plantations of the 17th century, the family accepted English surnames, becoming anglicised to ‘O’Heffron’.
In more recent times, O’Heffron can be found scattered throughout Ireland, Britain and the United States as descendants of these original Ulster Irish families have dispersed all over the world.
The population of the surname O’Heffron is quite small; the most recent estimates suggest that only around 550 people worldwide are registered with the surname.
The largest concentration of O’Heffrons today can be found in Ireland and the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Additionally, many O’Heffron families are believed to have settled in Australia during the 19th century.
In conclusion, it is safe to say that the surname O’Heffron is still relatively uncommon today, and generally concentrated in certain pockets across Ireland, the United States and Australia.
Variations of the surname O'Heffron
The O'Heffron surname has a number of variants and spellings, as well as other surnames of the same origin. These include O'Hiffern, Huffran, Heffernon, Heffron and Heffern. O'Heffron is an Irish surname originating from the Gaelic Ó hIfearnain, meaning "grandson of Ifearnan." Ifearnan was an ancestor of the O'Heffron family and was said to have been a descendant of the powerful Uí Fhearghail clan.
The Uí Fhearghail clan was a powerful Irish family that stretched back to the 10th century. They were an influential force in Meath before they were defeated in 1172 by the Norman invasions. The O'Heffrons descended from this family and were landed gentry, granting them rights to much of the land in the region of Uisneach.
Other similar surnames can also be seen in variants and spellings that are closely related to the O'Heffron surname. Some of the other variants and spellings found include McIfearnain, McEffron, Eifearnain, Iffron, Iferan and Effearnon.
Despite the fact that early immigrants often changed or adapted their surnames, the O'Heffron surname still remains one of the more common Irish surnames with roots in an old and powerful family. The variants and spellings of the name only add to the puzzle and intrigue that surrounds the family’s history.
Famous people with the name O'Heffron
- Neil O'Heffron: Irish actor
- David O'Heffron: American professional volleyball player
- Peter O'Heffron: American politician
- Robert O'Heffron: American football player
- Kieran O'Heffron: Irish actor
- Padraig O'Heffron: Irish hurler
- John O'Heffron: American writer and actor
- Corban O'Heffron: Irish footballer
- Patrick O'Heffron: Irish actor
- Ian O'Heffron: American musician