HAGERTY
Hagerty is a surname of Gaelic origin, rooted in the ancient peoples of the British Isles and in particular within Ireland. It belongs to the wider family of Celtic names which were traditionally passed down through lineages of noble and religious families.
The most widely accepted derivation of the name comes from the Gaelic Ó hÁgartaigh, meaning “descendant of Ágartaigh.” The personal element Ágartaigh is believed to be linked to the word ágartach, which translates as “noble” or “honourable.” In this sense the surname marks a person of noble or honourable descent.
Another commonly recorded form is Ó hEgceartaigh, an anglicised variant of the older Gaelic O'hEigceartaigh, meaning “descendant of Eigceartach.” The by‑name Eigceartach is thought to convey the sense of “unjust.” The principal sept of this family was linked to the Cineal Eoghan, a branch of the men who descended from Eoghan, son of the 4th‑century High King Niall of the Nine Hostages. By the 14th century the name was common in Tirkeeran, Inishowen and in the baronies of Barrymore and Carbery in Cork.
A third tradition associates the surname with Mac an tSagairt, which translates literally as “son of the priest.” This hypothesis situates the origin of the name in County Donegal, and suggests that a religious vocation may have inspired the adoption of the name by some early bearers.
In modern times the surname is found throughout Ireland, with significant concentrations in County Donegal, County Derry and County Cork. The spelling variations that arise from the anglicisation process include Hagerty, Hegarty, Haggerty, Haggart and Hagarty. The earliest recorded spelling in formal documents is “Maolmuire O'Hegarty,” a member of O'Neill’s army mentioned in the Records of the Battle of Kinsale in the year 1602.
Key historical entries for the family in the 18th and early 19th centuries show a son of William and Jane Haggerty, James, christened at Donaghmore in County Tyrone on 28 February 1779. On 14 April 1829 a marriage took place between Catherine Haggerty and John Aitkin at St. Luke's, Old Charlton in Kent.
The family coat of arms consists of a silver shield with an oak tree rendered in its natural colours, placed upon a red chief bearing three silver birds, their beaks and legs black. The crest shows an arm in armour, bent, holding a scimitar, all depicted in natural hues.
In the United States the surname is most common in the Midwest and the Mid‑Atlantic states. According to the US Census it is ranked as the 8 818th most common surname, with the highest concentration in Pennsylvania, where about 24 000 individuals bear the name, and a second sizeable community in Ohio with approximately 12 000 bearers. The name is also recorded in New York, Illinois, Michigan, Florida and other states. In Canada, the United Kingdom and various European countries the name persists, but it is rarely found in Asia, South America or other distant regions.
The contemporary use of Hagerty as a given name or for persons of Irish heritage reflects the family’s continuing association with loyalty, determination and leadership. The name has even entered popular culture; for example, American actress Julie Hagerty, born 15 June 1955, is best known for her role in the film Airplane. While this modern recognition is unrelated to the historical lineage, it illustrates the enduring presence of the surname in contemporary society.
Typical given names associated with the Hagerty surname
Male
- Anthony
- David
- Gary
- Ian
- James
- John
- Kevin
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Philip
- Stewart
- William
Female
- Dawn
- Elaine
- Elizabeth
- Gillian
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Kim
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Sinead
- Susan
- Tracy
- Verity
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Hagerty in...
Braille
⠓⠁⠛⠑⠗⠞⠽
Morse
.....---...-.--.--
Semaphore
There are approximately 602 people named Hagerty in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around nine in a million people in Britain are named Hagerty.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
