UK surname
An Irish surname derived from the Irish personal name Ó hAnnaidh, meaning "descendant of Annadh."
In the 1881 census there were 251 people recorded with the Hennesey surname, ranking it #11,041 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #11,041 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hennesey is 363 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 86.9%.
1881 census count
251
Ranked #11,041
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1891
363 bearers
Map years
5
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hennesey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hennesey surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 97 | #17,484 |
| 1861 | historical | 157 | #14,732 |
| 1881 | historical | 251 | #11,041 |
| 1891 | historical | 363 | #9,556 |
| 1901 | historical | 236 | #13,616 |
| 1911 | historical | 199 | #15,016 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 39 | #33,967 |
| 1999 | modern | 41 | #33,866 |
| 2000 | modern | 43 | #33,709 |
| 2001 | modern | 35 | #34,261 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 25 | #35,471 |
| 2004 | modern | 27 | #35,444 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 30 | #35,736 |
| 2009 | modern | 39 | #35,321 |
| 2010 | modern | 36 | #35,620 |
| 2011 | modern | 37 | #35,553 |
| 2012 | modern | 36 | #35,595 |
| 2013 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
| 2014 | modern | 34 | #35,784 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hennesey surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hennesey, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hennesey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hennesey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hennesey is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hennesey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hennesey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hennesey originated in Ireland, specifically in the county of Cork. It is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó hAnnracháin, which means "descendant of Annrachán." Annrachán was a personal name derived from the Gaelic word "annrach," meaning "yearling, calf, or young beast."
The earliest recorded instances of the Hennesey surname date back to the 16th century. In 1601, the surname was mentioned in the Fiants of Queen Elizabeth, a collection of documents related to the administration of Ireland during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Hennesey surname was Richard Hennesey, who was born in Cork around 1620. He served as the Bishop of Cloyne from 1679 until his death in 1692.
Another notable individual was Sir John Hennesey (1634-1719), a prominent Irish landowner and member of the Irish Parliament. He played a significant role in the Williamite War in Ireland (1688-1691) and was granted lands in County Cork for his support of King William III.
In the 18th century, John Hennesey (1705-1790) was an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons, representing the constituency of Youghal in County Cork.
The Hennesey surname gained widespread recognition in the 19th century with the establishment of the Hennessy Cognac House in France. Richard Hennessy (1724-1800), an Irish officer in the French Army, founded the Hennessy Cognac House in 1765 after he was granted the right to distill brandy in the Cognac region of France.
Another notable figure was John Hennesey (1772-1852), an Irish Catholic priest and historian who wrote extensively about the history of Ireland and the Catholic Church.
Throughout history, the Hennesey surname has been associated with various places in Ireland, particularly in County Cork. Some examples of place names related to the surname include Ballyhennesy, Lishennessy, and Garryhennesy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hennesey surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 76 Henneseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 76 | 2.56x |
| Middlesex | 46 | 1.84x |
| Surrey | 18 | 1.48x |
| Gloucestershire | 16 | 3.27x |
| Kent | 11 | 1.29x |
| Durham | 10 | 1.35x |
| Sussex | 10 | 2.38x |
| Monmouthshire | 9 | 4.99x |
| Devon | 7 | 1.35x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 1.09x |
| Essex | 6 | 1.22x |
| Fife | 6 | 4.06x |
| Midlothian | 6 | 1.79x |
| Nottinghamshire | 6 | 1.78x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.24x |
| Channel Islands | 5 | 6.76x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 0.78x |
| Clackmannanshire | 2 | 9.70x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 0.54x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.32x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.23x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.12x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 20 Henneseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.01x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hennesey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 22 |
| Ellen | 10 |
| Margaret | 10 |
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Catherine | 8 |
| Bridget | 6 |
| Alice | 5 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Julia | 3 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Eleanor | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Kate | 2 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Anstatia | 1 |
| Catharine | 1 |
| Cathrine | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Eider | 1 |
| Eliz. | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Honora | 1 |
| Howard | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Joannah | 1 |
| Johanna | 1 |
| Jonaha | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Maggie | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Marian | 1 |
| Nora | 1 |
| Olive | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Terese | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hennesey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 22 |
| James | 10 |
| Michael | 10 |
| Thomas | 10 |
| Patrick | 8 |
| William | 6 |
| Edward | 5 |
| George | 5 |
| Arthur | 3 |
| Daniel | 3 |
| Richard | 3 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Dennis | 2 |
| Martin | 2 |
| Stephen | 2 |
| Brien | 1 |
| Charles | 1 |
| Christopher | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Donald | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Fredk. | 1 |
| Geo. | 1 |
| Gifford | 1 |
| Hennry | 1 |
| Horatio | 1 |
| Jerimiah | 1 |
| Joseph | 1 |
| Lawrance | 1 |
| Luke | 1 |
| Michel | 1 |
| Owen | 1 |
| Peter | 1 |
| Samuel | 1 |
| Timothy | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 251 people were recorded with the Hennesey surname. That placed it at #11,041 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Hennesey a modern rank of #35,829.
An Irish surname derived from the Irish personal name Ó hAnnaidh, meaning "descendant of Annadh."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hennesey bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.