Surname Heenan - Meaning and Origin
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Heenan: What does the surname Heenan mean?
The last name Heenan is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name O'hEighnigh, which is derived from the Gaelic word "eighnin" meaning "cheerful". The earliest recorded use of this name dates back to Scotland in the 13th century.
The ancient families who used this name were likely of the nobility in Scotland and were thought to have descended from a figure known as the Heenan of the Isles, a renowned Scottish warlord who lived during the medieval era. It is said that the Heenan of the Isles was a lineage of Hebridean kings and warriors who were renowned for their skill in battle.
The Heenans can be found primarily in Scotland, Ireland, and areas of the United Kingdom such as London and Wales.
Today, the surname Heenan continues to serve as both a given name and a surname. Many modern day Heenans are found working in the fields of engineering and the sciences, as well as in business-related professions such as accountancy.
Overall, the Heenan surname is associated with a mixture of skill and intelligence as a result of its noble origins.
Order DNA origin analysisHeenan: Where does the name Heenan come from?
The last name Heenan is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in the areas of England, Wales, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. It is also found in small numbers in Ireland and South Africa.
In England, Heenan is most common in Manchester, Glasgow, Ponterfract, and London, although it is found throughout the country. It was particularly common in North Wales in the late 1800s and early 1900s, according to Surnames of Wales. In Scotland, Heenan is common in Edinburgh, Ayr, Kilmarnock, and Dundee.
The Heenan name may be an Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó hÁinín. The Ó hÁinín clan, based in County Limerick, claimed descent from a 10th-century king of Munster. The Heenans can be traced back to the 14th century in England.
The name Heenan is most common in the English-speaking world, but it can also be found in other countries, such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States. In these countries, it is less common than some other last names, but it can still be found.
Despite being less common than some other names, the Heenan last name is nevertheless a part of the global history and culture of the English-speaking world. It is a testament to the spread of culture and language, and the shifting of populations throughout history.
Variations of the surname Heenan
The surname Heenan is an anglicized Cantonese spelling of the Chinese surname 許, which can also be spelled Xu. It is also considered the English version of the Irish surname O'Heneghan.
Variants of Heenan include Himan, Hainan, Heinen, Heaney, Heine, Hienen, Hyonan, Hennen, Hannan and Henan. Some other related surnames of similar origin include Himon, Hieman, Hyman, Hinan and Hymnan.
In addition to the various spellings, there are also alternate forms of Heenan. Taken from Irish roots, O'Heenan or O'Heneghan would be a variant of the Irish Heenan surname. The French version of the Heenan surname is Heynes, and in Germany the shortened version would be Hena. Lastly, the more commonly seen version of the Irish O'Heenan surname in America is Hanegan.
Overall, the surname Heenan is a relatively ancient surname, with multiple variants, spellings, and variations scattered throughout much of the English-speaking world. Whether Irish, Chinese, French or German, various forms of the Heenan surname date back centuries, with many families bearing the name still living around the world today.
Famous people with the name Heenan
- Bobby Heenan: a professional wrestling manager, commentator, and occasional wrestler. He is known for his time in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and his managerial style, often managing some of the biggest stars of the era.
- Dean Heenan: an American bass guitarist who has played with several hard rock groups, most notably Black Sabbath during the band's early years and Judas Priest during the late 1970s.
- Pat Heenan: an American professional tennis player best known for his successes in doubles matches. He is a three-time Grand Slam champion and one-time Davis Cup winner.
- Jimmy Heenan: an American actor based in California. He has appeared in many films, television shows, and theatre productions.
- Roger Heenan: an American musician and actor best known as the singer of the multi-Grammy-nominated rock band Wilco.
- Kevin Heenan: an American basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the NBA D-League's Reno Bighorns.
- John Heenan: an American paleontologist and a leading authority on dinosaurs.
- Michael Heenan: an Australian actor and director, best known for his performance as Shayne Hatfield in television soap opera Home and Away.
- Shaw Heenan: an American CEO and entrepreneur, best known for founding multiple successful business-to-business technology companies.
- John Heenan (rider): a British flat racing jockey who started out as an apprentice for trainer Gerry Hogan in 1983. He won the Epsom Derby in 1990 aboard the horse Quest for Fame.