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HEFFERNAN Family History

This ancient Irish name is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname "O hIfearnain", the "O" prefix indicating "(male) descendant of", and the personal name "Ifearnan", a diminutive formation from the nickname "Ifreannach", demon, from "ifreann", hell. Traditionally, Irish family names are taken from the heads of tribes, or from some illustrious warrior, and are usually prefixed by "O", as above, or "Mac", denoting "son of". The original territory of the Heffernan sept was near Corofin in County Clare, called Muintirfernain after them, but they established themselves early on in eastern County Limerick, on the Tipperary border, and were chiefs there of Owneybeg; the (O')Heffernans are still found mostly in those areas...

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Gerald Maltby

My paternal haplogroup is R-S7898, and Maltby is the most likely surname that would be connected to both me and the Heffernans. I found my haplogroup to match the same names that you mentioned, and I think that I have been able to trace my lineage back to the late 1600s to England. There is some evidence that the Maltby's had extensive land ownership in Scotland since they participated in the march of Ulster. I am wondering how far back this paternal haplogroup goes. I think if you find some of the Maltby Pedigrees online from "Early Maltby, by Ella K Barnard", there will probably be a common ancestor that gave us our haplogroup. Perhaps we are all cousins!

John Scott Heffernan

Does anyone know where this clan originated?

HEFFERNAN

Edmund Alford Heffren, abt 1724 Athy, County Kildare, son Mattias/Mathew born Oct. 5, 1754 Athy, Kildare who married , son Margaret Eleanor Nowlan born 1763. Their son, John Timothy born Sept 3, 1783 St Canice's Kilkenny married Margaret Anastasia Hennessey born 1793. John Tim migrated with his son John Mathew born 1812 and his brother Edward William in 1826. They came to Lavaca County Texas 1827 and received 4,000 acres to fight in the Mexican-Texas War to get the state. I am DNA z253 and per administrators there is 4-5 septs of Heffernans, not related. I would very much like to know if any Heffernan in Ireland who has taken any DNA. Some of my matches are 5 other Heffernans, Campion, Gaitley, Coyne.