History of your Surname
Get access to Heffernan family records.Start a free trial

Heffernan Family History

Heffernan Name Meaning

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hIfearnáin ‘descendant of Ifearnán’ a personal name possibly from a diminutive of ifreann ‘hell’ and thus meaning ‘demon’. The surname has sometimes been shortened to Hernon .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Hefferon, Heenan, Hefferman, Hefferan, Ferran, Hernan, Henderson

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Heffernan family from?

You can see how Heffernan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Heffernan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Heffernan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 43 Heffernan families living in Lancashire. This was about 27% of all the recorded Heffernan's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Heffernan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Heffernan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Heffernan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Plasterer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Heffernan. 17% of Heffernan men worked as a Plasterer and 65% of Heffernan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Heffernan were Unemployed Iron Ore Miner and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Heffernan | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Plasterer
    17%
  • General Labourer
    17%
  • Plasterer H W
    17%
  • Unemployed Iron Ore Miner
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Teacher
    5%
  • Housewife
    4%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Heffernan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 50,000 census records available for the last name Heffernan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Heffernan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Heffernan

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Heffernan. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Heffernan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Heffernan. For the veterans among your Heffernan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Heffernan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Heffernan family history

Discover More

What is the average Heffernan lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Heffernan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1955, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Heffernan in 1946 was 44, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Heffernan

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Heffernan family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Heffernan last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial