HICKEY
The surname Hickey is an Irish family name that originates from the Gaelic patronymic Ó hÍcidhe, which literally means “descendant of Ícidhe”. The personal name Ícidhe is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word íceadh, meaning “healer” or “physician”, so that the name as a whole denotes a line of healers or practitioners of medicine.
In the early medieval period, records from the 10th century place the Hickeys among the prominent families of the Dalcassian tribe in the province of Munster. Their presence is especially recorded in the counties of Clare and Limerick, where the name remains common to the present day. The Dalcassians were a powerful and respected clan, and members of the Hickey family were reputed to serve as traditional healers for the community.
During the period of the Great Famine, 1845 to 1849, many bearers of the name emigrated to English‑speaking countries. Consequently, the surname can now be found with notable frequency in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Despite the migration, the name has often survived as a marker of Irish ethnic identity in diaspora communities.
The spelling of the surname has evolved and several variants exist. In addition to the modern form Hickey, the name may appear as Hickie, Hicky or O’Hickey. A less common Americanised variant is Hickse, while some families use Higgie or Higgy. It is important to recognise that surnames that sound similar—such as Hick—are of separate English origin and should not be confused with the Irish lineage.
Because the history of a surname can be complex and influenced by migration, dialect, religion and personal choice, a full understanding of an individual’s line of the Hickey name may require detailed genealogical research. Nevertheless, the name remains a clear reminder of an ancient Irish tradition that associated the family with the profession of healing.
Typical given names associated with the Hickey surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Angela
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Joanne
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- 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 Hickey in...
Braille
⠓⠊⠉⠅⠑⠽
Morse
......-.-.-.-.-.--
Semaphore
There are approximately 6,966 people named Hickey in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,352nd most common surname in Britain. Around 107 in a million people in Britain are named Hickey.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Hickey
- Aaron Hickey - Hay its me
- Kirsty Hickey - Actress
- Adam Hickey - Cricketer
- Maggie Hickey - Australian politician
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.