Gaelic sept

Hynes

Ó hEidhin

Also: Heynes, Hyndes, O'Hynes

“descendant of Eidhean, ‘ivy’”

🏔 Galway · Gaillimh 🏔 Clare · An Clár 🏔 Limerick · Luimneach Source: Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923) ↗

The sept's historic heartland, highlighted. People moved — a name can be found far from home.

The story

A Galway family descended from Guaire Aidhne, King of Connacht in the 7th century. Woulfe says they were the chief family of Uí Fiachrach Aidhne for six hundred years, as lords of a district that covered roughly the same ground as the diocese of Kilmacduagh. Maolruanaidh Ó hEidhin, lord of Aidhne, who fell at Clontarf in 1014, was the first to bear the surname. Another family of the name, near Caherconlish in Co. Limerick, was by then almost extinct. The name was still common in Galway and the neighbouring parts of Clare.

Their world In 1014 — Kings with Opposition. Brian Boru dies winning, at Clontarf in 1014.

See them on the atlas ↗

What the name is made of

Ó hEidhin
Ó — descendant of (originally grandson of)
hEidhin — the ancestor, trade or place the name is built on

Find this form in the Irish-to-English index → · What Ó and Mac actually mean

Is Hynes an Irish name?

Hynes is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here.

The five answers, and why it is rarely yes or no →

Where the Hynes country is

County Galway County Clare County Limerick Limerick Galway Ennis Tuam Newcastle West Ballinasloe Loughrea Athenry 37 castles in Galway 13 castles in Clare 14 castles in Limerick

Neighbours — other names from the same counties

Moroney · Clare, Limerick, Galway O'Grady · Clare, Galway, Limerick Carmody · Clare, Limerick Clohessy · Clare, Limerick Conway · Clare, Galway Cooney · Galway, Clare Creagh · Clare, Limerick Deegan · Galway, Clare Drennan · Galway, Clare Duane · Galway, Limerick Enright · Limerick, Clare Griffin · Clare, Limerick Hanrahan · Clare, Limerick Hartigan · Clare, Limerick

Quick answers

Is Hynes an Irish name?

Hynes is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here. In Irish the name is Ó hEidhin.

What does the surname Hynes mean?

Hynes (Irish: Ó hEidhin) means “descendant of Eidhean, ‘ivy’”. Origin: Gaelic sept.

Where in Ireland is the surname Hynes from?

The historic homeland of the Hynes name is Galway, Clare, Limerick. People moved, so the name can be found far beyond it.

What is the Irish for Hynes?

Ó hEidhin. Related spellings: Heynes, Hyndes, O'Hynes.

Looking for the Hynes family crest? Read this first — arms belong to people, not surnames, and the honest version is more interesting. Tracing Hynes ancestors? The step-by-step guide.

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