Origin of the surname Hegarty

This noble Irish surname is an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic "O'hEigceartaigh", descendant of Eigceartach, a personal byname meaning "Unjust". Traditionally, Irish family names are taken from the heads of tribes, revered elders, or some illustrious warrior, and are usually prefixed by "O", grandson, male descendant of, or "Mac" denoting "son of". The principal sept of (O)hEigceartaigh was of the Cineal Eoghan, that is, belonging to that group of people descended from Eoghan, son of Niall of the ine Hostages, the 4th Century High King of Ireland.

This sept was located on the borders of the present counties of Donegal and Derry, and in the 14th Century the barony of Loughinsholin (County Derry) was their chief habitat. In the 17th Century they were more numerous in Tirkeeran (County Derry) and Inishowen (County Donegal), and also in the baronies of Barrymore and Carbery West in the Munster county of Cork, where a branch of the Ulster Hegartys settled. Notable bearers of the name were Lt.-Col Hegarty of Lally's Regiment, who, in 1747, was rewarded for his service by Louis XV of France, and Peter O'Hegarty who was made Governor of the Isle of Bourbon. The family Coat of Arms is a silver shield with an oak tree eradicated proper, on a red chief three silver birds, beaked and legged sable, the Crest being an arm in armour embowed, the hand grasping a scymitar all proper. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Maolmuire O'Hegarty, a member of O'Neill's army, which was dated 1602, in "Records of the Battle of Kinsale", during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 of England, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Hegarty. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Discovering the historical roots of hegarty is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. Research into the possible origins of hegarty leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname hegarty is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.

The surname Hegarty around the world

Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname hegarty. There is a considerable probability that hegarty has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where hegarty is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname hegarty provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Hegarty

The historical chronicle of hegarty is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named hegarty are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname hegarty, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of hegarty developed.

We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname hegarty, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of hegarty could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about hegarty and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Hegarty

It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished hegartys throughout human history. We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname hegarty, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname hegarty were recorded by the chroniclers of the time.

The surname Hegarty and its bibliographic sources

Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of hegarty. The bibliography collects information related to the surname hegarty, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of hegarty are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of hegarty, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Hegarty