Hennessy

Hennessy is a surname of Irish origin which can be traced back to the Irish Gaelic name "Ó hAonghusa", meaning ‘descendant of Aonghus.’ The name originally hailed from County Cork in Munster and County Wicklow in Leinster, in the southern part of Ireland.

The Hennessy family has a long and distinguished history, with members being noted for their involvement in various fields such as politics, academia, and the arts. One of the most well-known figures with the surname Hennessy is Thomas Hennessy, an Irish writer and poet.

The name 'Hennessy' is commonly associated with the famous French cognac distillery, founded by Richard Hennessy in Cognac, France, in the 18th century. While there is no proven direct connection between the Irish Hennessys and the founders of the cognac brand, the similar surname has led to some speculation.

Hennessy remains a popular surname in Ireland and the United Kingdom, with many individuals proudly carrying on the family name through the generations.

There are approximately 4,520 people named Hennessy in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,075th most common surname in Britain. Around 69 in a million people in Britain are named Hennessy.

Origin: Celtic

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: Ireland

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: Gaelic

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • David
  • James
  • John
  • Mark
  • Michael
  • Patrick
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Richard
  • Thomas

Female

  • Amanda
  • Anne
  • Deborah
  • Diane
  • Elizabeth
  • Julie
  • Kathleen
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Michelle
  • Patricia
  • Sarah
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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