Surname Healihy - Meaning and Origin

Healihy: What does the surname Healihy mean?

The last name Healihy is an Irish surname derived from the name O'hEiligh, Anglicized to Haily, Haley, Healy, and Healihy. It is originally a Gaelic-Irish surname, belonging to the clan Ua hEilidhe which is located throughout the Irish provinces of Cork and Kerry.

The name itself means “descendant of Eilidhe”, with the original Irish form “Eilidhe” being an old Gaelic personal name. The name is sometimes translated as “spirited”, “resolute”, and “ardent leader”; this likely reflects the proud lineage of leadership associated with the Ua hEilidhe clan.

For centuries, the O'hEilighs were one of the fourteen most powerful families in Munster. They held vast territory and power in West Muskerry—the area where modern-day Cork and Kerry overlap. As such, the Healihys were typically represented as lords, chiefs, and landowners from these counties.

The modern-day descendants of these ancient Irish clans still carry the Healihy name with pride. The resilient spirit of the name is evident both in the deeds their ancestors achieved centuries ago and in the Healihys of today who bravely embark on new adventures and chase after their dreams.

Healihy: Where does the name Healihy come from?

The surname Healihy is currently most common in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. It is believed to have originated in Ireland and derived from the Gaelic name ‘O’hEilidhe’, which is composed of the words ‘O’ meaning grandson and 'hEilidhe’ meaning ‘healer’.

In the UK, Healihy is ranked at 20’068 with around 1’051 people carrying the surname. It is commonly found in counties such as Devon, Cornwall, and Kent. While in Ireland, Healihy is found mostly throughout counties Cork and Waterford. The most notable bearer was Archbishop Hans Healihy, who was a prominent figure in the late 19’th and early 20’th century church.

In Australia, Healihy is a moderately common name and currently held by around 1’271 people. It’s most common in New South Wales and Victoria. Here, the most notable bearers are former Australian cricket and rugby league player Joe Healihy (1960-1990) and footballer Narelle Healihy from the late 1960s.

Although the name is not hugely common, Healihy is still found in the UK, Ireland and Australia, and has a notable history with notable bearers.

Variations of the surname Healihy

Healihy is an Irish surname of Gaelic origin. The name can be found spelled in various ways, such as Healey, Healy, Healy-Hy, and Haly.

The most common Anglicized form of the surname is Healy, with the Healey spelling found most in the countries of Scotland and Wales. Sub variations of the Healy spelling found in Ireland are Healy-Hy, Healyhey and Healaughy.

The Scottish Haly (or Haley) spelling may be a derivative of the Healy surname and is believed to have originated from the Ayrshire region of Scotland. The "Haley" spelling has been seen in Ireland in modern times, and is likely an anglicization of the Healy or Healey surname.

The Healey spelling is derived from the O'hEilidhe clan, which is an important branch descended from Heremon, ancestor of all the Irish kings. The O'hEilidhe group was a branch of the Eoghanacht dynasty of Munster Counties.

The Healey surname is found mainly in the province of Munster, in the Irish counties of Kerry, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford. The Healihy and Hekahey spellings are also associated with this region, and are mainly found today in Kerry, Cork, and Waterford.

The Healy-Hy variant of the surname was first seen in Cork in the late 1700s and is still found in Co. Cork today. It is a combination of two Gaelic-Irish surnames, Healy and Hy, and is an example of surname spellings taking multiple forms.

The Healihy and Hekahey spellings are associated with Kerry and Cork counties in Ireland. Lastly, the Healey spelling is often associated with County Clare.

Famous people with the name Healihy

• Colin Healy: former professional soccer player
• Meaghan Healy: NFL chief operating officer
• Jim Healy: former college basketball coach
• Jay Healy: former NHL player
• Siobhan Healy: former professional soccer player
• Bill Healy: actor
• Kevin Healy: actor
• Patrick Healy: actor
• Katie Healy: model
• Carol Healy: actress
• John Patrick Healy: singer/songwriter
• Andrew Healy: former professional soccer player
• Paul Healy: former professional boxer
• Shawn Healy: former professional soccer player
• Brent Healy: actor

Other surnames

Healion