Heaney is a surname of Irish origin. It is an

Anglicisation Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...

of the

Gaelic Gaelic (pronounced for Irish Gaelic and for Scots Gaelic) is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". It may refer to: Languages * Gaelic languages or Goidelic languages, a linguistic group that is one of the two branches of the Insul ...

''Ó hEignigh'', thought to be based on the Gaelic a

personal name A personal name, full name or prosoponym (from Ancient Greek ''prósōpon'' – person, and ''onoma'' –name) is the set of names by which an individual person or animal is known. When taken together as a word-group, they all relate to that on ...

meaning "horseman". It was mistakenly thought to derive from Éan, Gaelic for Bird. Versions of it are written in the

Annals Annals (, from , "year") are a concise history, historical record in which events are arranged chronology, chronologically, year by year, although the term is also used loosely for any historical record. Scope The nature of the distinction betw ...

from the 8th century and has a diverse array of modern derivations and origins. They were chiefs of Fermanagh and Kings of Airgíalla before the expansion south of

Uí Néill The Uí Néill (; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties that claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who is believed to have died around c. 405. They are generally divided ...

branches

Cenél Fearadhaigh Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history *Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...

and Cenél nEoghain into

Airgíalla Airgíalla (; Modern Irish: Oirialla, English: Oriel, Latin: ''Ergallia'') was a medieval Irish over-kingdom and the collective name for the confederation of tribes that formed it. The confederation consisted of nine minor kingdoms, all indepen ...

and the rise of The

Maguire The Maguire ( ) family is an Irish clans, Irish clan based in County Fermanagh. The name derives from the Goidelic languages, Gaelic , which is "son of Odhar" meaning 'Wikt:sallow, sallow' or 'pale-faced'. According to legend, this relates to the ...

s in

Fermanagh Historically, Fermanagh (), as opposed to the modern County Fermanagh, was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Fermanagh. ''Fir Manach'' originally referred to a distinct kin group of alleged Laigin or ...

. They became allies to repel the

Normans The Normans (Norman language, Norman: ''Normaunds''; ; ) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norsemen, Norse Viking settlers and locals of West Francia. The Norse settlements in West Franc ...

in the 13th century. *1127, Gillachrist Ua hEighnigh, king of Feara-Manach, and chief king of Oirghiall, died in Clochar-Uí-nDaimhin (then the Royal capital of

), after choice penance. Notable people with the surname include: * Aidan Heaney, retired English football player * Andrew Heaney, baseball player * Bob Heaney, Canadian former ice hockey player *

Charles Heaney Charles Edward Heaney (1897–1981Wall text in "No Longer Forgotten: Uncovering the Stories of WPA Artists in the Northwest", Tacoma Art Museum, 2020) was an American painter and printmaker. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, he worked for ...

, American photographer and painter * Craig Heaney, British actor of screen, stage and radio * Dermot Heaney, former Irish Gaelic footballer *

Francis Heaney Francis Heaney is a professional puzzle writer and editor (and a former editor-at-large) for ''GAMES Magazine'', as well as a former editor of ''Enigma,'' the official publication of the National Puzzlers' League, the composer and co-lyricist (wit ...

, crossword compiler * Frank Heaney, (1886–1937), Irish footballer * Gerald William Heaney, (1918–2010), federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals * Gerald Heaney (magician), (1899–1974), American magician *

Geraldine Heaney Geraldine Heaney (born October 1, 1967) is an Irish-Canadian ice hockey coach and former defenceman. She played 18 seasons and over 1,000 games with the Toronto Aeros organization, won six Ontario provincial championships and was named Ontari ...

, Irish-Canadian ice hockey head coach * Harry Heaney, emeritus Professor of Organic Chemistry *

Joe Heaney Joe Heaney (AKA Joe Éinniú; Irish: Seosamh Ó hÉanaí) (1 October 1919 – 1 May 1984) was an Irish traditional ( sean nós) singer from Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. He spent most of his adult life abroad, living in England, Scotland an ...

(AKA Joe Éinniú), (1919–1984), was an Irish traditional (sean nós) singer from County Galway, Ireland * Katie Heaney, American writer *

Mark Heaney Mark Andrew Heaney (born 14 August 1970) is an English drummer and composer, hailing from London. He was a member of The Seahorses (1998–1999), The Shining (2001–2002) and Gang of Four (2006–2013). Heaney's interest in drumming began ...

, drummer *

Mehgan Heaney-Grier Mehgan Heaney-Grier (born ''Mehgan Renee Heaney''; August 26, 1977) is an American champion free-diver, freediver, fashion model, actress, conservation movement, conservationist, and TV personality. Early life Heaney-Grier was born in Duluth, ...

, champion free diver, fashion model, actress, conservationist, and TV personality *

Neil Heaney Neil Andrew Heaney (born 3 November 1971) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. Heaney began his career with top-flight club Arsenal before making 61 appearances in the Premier League for Southampton. He played i ...

, English former footballer *

Patrick Heeney Patrick Heeney (19 October 1881 – 13 June 1911), sometimes spelt Heaney, was an Irish composer whose most famous work is the music to the Irish national anthem "" (). Background Heeney was born at 101 Lower Mecklenburgh Street (now Railway St ...

, (1881–1911), sometimes spelt Heaney, was an Irish composer whose most famous work is the music to the Irish national anthem "Amhrán na bhFiann" (English: "The Soldier's Song") * Robert S. Heaney, author and Professor of Theology * Sarah Heaney, Scottish television presenter *

Seamus Heaney Seamus Justin Heaney (13 April 1939 – 30 August 2013) was an Irish Irish poetry, poet, playwright and translator. He received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature. Among his best-known works is ''Death of a Naturalist'' (1966), his first m ...

(1939–2013), Irish poet, playwright and translator, who was awarded the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature * Stewart Heaney, Canadian cricketer * Thomas Heaney, Australian rules footballer * Tim Heaney, (1914–1996), South African cricketer

References

{{surname, Heaney English-language surnames Anglicised Irish-language surnames Surnames of Irish origin