719 Global Heaphy Family Members

Heaphy Family History

Recorded as Heaphy, Heaffey, Heephy, and possibly others, this is an Irish surname. It derives from the pre 10th century Gaelic O' hEamhthaigh, meaning the male descendant of the follower of the patron saint. This is from the prefix O', meaning male descendant of, and "hEamhth" , the patron, a reference probably to the 8th century patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick. Traditionally, Irish family names are taken from the heads of tribes, and are usually prefixed by O', as above, or Mac, denoting "son of".