Healy
What is the origin of the last name Healy?
Meaning and origin
The last name Healy has its origins in Ireland, specifically in County Galway. The name Healy can also be found in other parts of Ireland, including County Mayo and County Sligo, where it was initially anglicized as Haly. Over time, variations of the name emerged, such as Healey and Hely, as the surname spread beyond its Galway roots.
The longer story
The last name Healy is of Irish origin and is believed to have several possible meanings. One possible meaning is that it is derived from the Gaelic name Ó hÉalaighthe, which means "descendant of Éaladha" or "descendant of a healer." Another possible meaning is that it is derived from the Gaelic name Ó hÉilidhe, which means "descendant of Éilidhe" or "descendant of a claimant." Yet another possible meaning is that it is derived from the Gaelic name Ó hIaladh, which means "descendant of Ialadh" or "descendant of a nobleman."
The surname Healy is most commonly found in Ireland, particularly in the provinces of Connacht and Munster.
Genealogy research and historical records can provide additional insights into individual family histories and variations of the Healy surname.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,654
Healy was the 1,654th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 21,751 people, about 7.0 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Healy
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Healy is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.