HAGGERTY
Haggerty is a patronymic surname of Gaelic origin, derived from the Irish name Ó hEachthighearna, which literally means “descendant of Eachthighearna.” The personal name Eachthighearna is a compound of each, meaning “horse,” and tighearna, meaning “lord” or “master.” Consequently, the surname can be interpreted as “descendant of the horse‑lord” or “son of the master of horses,” suggesting that the original bearers were likely associated with equestrian pursuits or held a position of authority over horses in ancient Ireland.
Historical records indicate that the surname was widely found in the counties of Donegal, Derry and Cork. It is a later anglicisation of the pre‑10th‑century Old Gaelic form O'hEigceartaigh, which itself was derived from the personal by‑name Eigceartach. This by‑name carried the literal meaning “unjust,” and may refer to a chief who was considered to have been treated unjustly. The principal sept of this line belonged to the Cineal Eoghan, a group claiming descent from Eoghan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, the 4th‑century High King of Ireland. By the 14th century the barony of Loughinsholin in County Derry was their chief habitat, and earlier in the 17th century the name was also common in Inishowen, County Donegal, and in the baronies of Barrymore and Carbery West in County Cork where a branch had settled.
The surname has evolved through many spellings, including O'Heagertie, O'Hagirtie, O'Hagerty, Hagerty, Hegarty, Haggarty and Haggerty. Early surviving records provide concrete evidence of its use: a christening in Donaghmore, County Tyrone, on 14 Feb 1779 detailed the baptism of James, son of William and Jane Haggerty; a marriage in St. Luke’s, Old Charlton, Kent, England, on 14 Apr 1829 recorded the union of Catherine Haggerty and John Aitkin.
The family arms of Haggerty are described in heraldic blazon as a silver field charged with an oak tree eradicated proper, and on a red chief three birds argent, beaked and legged sable. The first recorded spelling of the name appears in 1602 in the annals of the Battle of Kinsale, where Maolmuire O'Hegarty served in the army of the O'Neills.
In addition to its Irish roots, the surname has a significant presence in Scotland. It is believed to be an anglicised form of the Gaelic Ó Hagartaigh, meaning “descendant of Hagartach.” The element hag means “summer” and artach “high” or “noble.” The name was widely recorded in the 17th‑century counties of Donegal and Fermanagh and from the early 19th century found in parts of western Scotland. Today, Haggerty remains strongly associated with both Ireland and Scotland, though it has also spread to North America, Australia and New Zealand.
In the United States the surname is most commonly found in New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, while in Canada it is prevalent in the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as Ontario and British Columbia. The distribution of the name across the globe reflects the emigration patterns of Irish and Scottish families over the past four centuries.
In conclusion, the surname Haggerty reflects a deep Gaelic heritage that combines elements of equestrian authority, martial history and noble lineage. Its numerous variants and widespread diaspora attest to the resilience and adaptability of the families who bear it.
Typical given names associated with the Haggerty surname
Male
- Daniel
- David
- Derek
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Anne
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Joanne
- Karen
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Susan
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 Haggerty in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 2,046 people named Haggerty in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,138th most common surname in Britain. Around 31 in a million people in Britain are named Haggerty.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Haggerty
- Benjamin Hammond Haggerty - American rapper
- Kurt Haggerty - Rugby league football player and coach
- Roy Haggerty - Rugby league player (1960 to 2018)
- Gareth Haggerty - Rugby league player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.