Stay informed about HEFFERNAN Family online & offline events!

See one of our recent Ireland101 Tribe Gatherings

MEET
LEARN
SHOP

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...

Who have we missed?

Tell us about any famous HEFFERNAN (or surname variant) you think we should add here. We will get our genealogists to check them out and add them to the list. Thanks!