Surname O'Hussey - Meaning and Origin
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O'Hussey: What does the surname O'Hussey mean?
O’Hussey is an Irish surname that is derived from the Gaelic Ó hEasaidh, which itself is derived from the personal name Easa. It is an anglicized form of the given name Aodh, modernized as “Hugh”. The name is found mostly in County Mayo and Northern Ireland, suggesting that the family originated there.
O’Hussey is a Munster name, which is the traditional name for a province in the southwestern corner of Ireland. The name was first found in County Cork in the late sixteenth century, when it spread South into County Cork.
In Ireland, O’Hussey is thought to have descended from the Mathghamhain Sept located near Kildare which was originally from the race of Heremon, the first King of Ireland. It was also from the house of O’Neill, the Kings of Ulster from the tenth to the twelfth century, and is related to other Ulster families such as the O’Reillys, the O’Doghertys, the O’Cahans, and the O’Connors.
In modern day Ireland, O’Hussey’s are most often found in larger cities. Outside of Ireland, O’Hussey’s are commonly found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The O’Hussey surname can also be found in the United Kingdom.
Given its strong ties to Irish culture and heritage, the O’Hussey surname is one that all Irish people can be proud of. The O’Hussey’s are part of the larger O’Neill family, and this connection to ancient Irish history and traditions makes the name O’Hussey a strong and proud Irish surname.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Hussey: Where does the name O'Hussey come from?
The last name O’Hussey is an ancient Irish surname, originating from the Gaelic Ó hEochusaigh. Historically it is most commonly associated with County Kerry in the Republic of Ireland, with significant concentrations still present in the area.
Today, however, the O’Hussey surname is spread across the world. Statistical information from the past few decades shows the highest concentrations of people with this last name in the United States, Australia, England, and Ireland.
In the United States, there are approximately 200 people living with the last name O’Hussey, with the highest concentrations of people living in California, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. In Australia, over 70 people with the name O’Hussey can be traced, with the majority living in Victoria and New South Wales. In England, Scotland, and Wales, an estimated 90 people with this surname can be found, while the Republic of Ireland is still home to more than 200 individuals living with the last name O’Hussey.
The geographical spread of this surname is a testament to the diaspora of Irish people around the world over the past two centuries. From the United States, to Australia, and from England and Scotland, back to the homeland – more and more people are finding out about the roots of their family and this ancient surname, O’Hussey.
Variations of the surname O'Hussey
The surname O'Hussey is an old Irish-Gaelic name that may be pronounced a number of different ways based on regional or local pronunciations, such as "O Hussy", "O Hussee" or even "O Hussy-E". Different variants and spelling variations of this name include Hussey, Hussy, Husseye, O'Hussie, O'Husey, O'Hoosie, Housse, O'Hossy, O'Houssey, and O'Husie. It is especially common in the Ulster province of Ireland, where the mountainous terrain and longstanding traditions helped many families keep the same surname for centuries.
The O'Hussey surname began in County Mayo, where an extend family are believed to have descended from Kings of the province. Over the generations, the branches of the family began to disperse throughout Ulster and into other parts of Ireland. As they did so, they may have adopted a version of their original surname based on local pronunciation. Today, O'Hussey is among the most popular surnames in Ulster.
Even today, the O'Hussaey surname retains its ancient Irish roots, although a number of branches of the family now spell their names differently. Popular among these alternate spellings are Hussey, Hussy, and Husseye. The O'Hussaey surname may also have been changed to reflect other variations in pronunciation or spelling, such as O'Husey, O'Hoosie, Housse, O'Hossy, O'Houssey, and O'Husie. Depending on where the family eventually settled, the name may have been changed somewhat as a result of local pronunciation or as a combination of various spellings.
Famous people with the name O'Hussey
- Aoife O'Hussey: Professional dancer and coach.
- John O'Hussey: Composer and Director of Music at the celebrated annual cathedral services of Armagh, St Patrick's and Clogher.
- Kevin O'Hussey: Artist whose works have been exhibited in numerous international galleries.
- Maebh O'Hussey: Irish political activist and former Secretary General for the Labour Party.
- Máire O'Hussey: Deaf actress and disability rights campaigner.
- Niall O'Hussey: Irish folk music singer and guitarist.
- Seán O'Hussey: Traditional Irish music fiddler and multi-instrumentalist.
- William O'Hussey: Clergyman famous for his efforts to encourage religious vocations for women.