Irish Surname - Harney
Origin of the Irish surname Harney
The Irish surname Harney is of Gaelic origin, derived from the Old Gaelic name "Ó hAthairne." The name is a patronymic form, meaning it comes from the name of a male ancestor. In this case, "Ó" means "descendant of" or "grandson of," while "hAthairne" was a personal name meaning "warrior" or "lord." The Harney surname is primarily associated with the western region of Ireland, particularly in County Galway and County Mayo.
Interesting People with the Surname Harney
- Mary Harney is an Irish politician who was born on March 11, 1953, in Ballinasloe, County Galway. She is a prominent figure in Irish politics and served as the Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) of Ireland from 1997 to 2006. Harney was also the leader of the Progressive Democrats, a now-defunct center-right political party, from 1993 to 2006.
In addition to her roles as Tánaiste and party leader, Harney held multiple ministerial positions throughout her career. She was the Minister for Health and Children from 2004 to 2011, during which she oversaw significant reforms in the Irish healthcare system. Prior to that, she served as the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment from 1997 to 2004, where she played a crucial role in shaping Ireland's economic policies during a period of rapid growth known as the Celtic Tiger era.
Harney was a member of the Irish Parliament (Dáil Éireann) from 1981 to 2011, representing the Dublin South-West and Dublin Mid-West constituencies. Throughout her political career, she was known for her pragmatic and reformist approach, often advocating for liberalisation and modernisation in various sectors of Irish society. After retiring from politics in 2011, Harney has held various roles in the private sector and serves as a director on several boards. - Jamie Joseph Harney is a Northern Irish professional footballer born on August 11, 1996, in Belfast. He mainly plays as a center-back but can also operate as a right-back. Harney began his career in the youth system of Cliftonville before joining the West Ham United Academy in 2012. He spent several years at West Ham, representing their youth and reserve teams but didn't make a senior appearance for the club.
In 2017, Harney returned to Northern Ireland and signed with Cliftonville, his former club. Since then, he has been an important player for the team and has made numerous appearances in the Northern Irish Premiership. Additionally, Harney has represented Northern Ireland at various youth international levels, including the U17, U19, and U21 squads.
Variations of the Irish Surname Harney
- Harney is the most common variation of the surname.
- Ó hAthairne is the original Gaelic form of the name.
- Hearney is a phonetic variation that can be found in some historical records.
Coat of Arms and Motto of the Irish Surname Harney
The Harney coat of arms features a red shield with a silver chevron between three silver escallops (shells). The escallop shell is a symbol of pilgrimage and travel, often representing a journey of faith or a spiritual quest. The silver chevron signifies protection and is believed to represent the roof of a house, symbolising faithful service and achievement in the home or community. There is no known motto associated with the Harney surname.
Please Note
There is often limited information available on a specific coat of arms and motto for an Irish surname. Sometimes there are many variations, sometimes none, we have compiled a representative, but by no means exhaustive, selection. Please visit our Coat of Arms and Motto page for more information.
DNA And Your Irish Roots
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