Hession (pronounced "hesh + in") is an old Connacht Irish surname. It is an Anglicized form of the Irish Ó hOissín. In Irish, it is pronounced "O + hush + een".[1]

It appears to originate in County Galway and in County Mayo. The Hession surname is predominantly found in these counties in the Census of Ireland, 1911. It denotes descent from a person named Oisín, a personal name meaning "little deer", and the name of the poet and warrior of the fianna in Irish mythology. Áed Ua hOissín was the name of two Irish clerics in the 11th and 12th centuries - the coarb of St. Jarlath (1050) and the first Archbishop of Tuam (1152) respectively.[2] George Petrie who unearthed the High cross at Tuam which bears an inscription Áed Ua hOissín wrote that he was assisted by a gentleman of the name O'Heshin who little realised he was digging up the relic of an ancestor. Darby O'Hession (spelt O'Hoysshynne) is the name of a Galway Cleric in the 16th, a vicar choral recorded in that churches first charter of St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church in Galway in 1551.[3]

Hession has occasionally been spelt Hessian in Galway and is sometimes falsely assumed to be of German origin - See Hessian. MacLysaght suggests a connection with the surname Ussher - which is probably the name of a separate and distinct family of English Origin based in Dublin and later in Galway. This connection with Ussher is apparently the basis for claims the family is of Norman or English Origin, and the use of the Ussher Arms for the family on popular family history sites.

The name may be related with similar names Hishon in County Limerick and Hassan in County Londonderry. Hishon is the anglicised form of Ó hOiseáin and finds an early reference amongst the Allies of the MacNamara family in County Clare in the early 14th century. While Hassan is the anglicized form of Ó hOsáin.

The Annals of Loch Ce record that Domnall Ua Cuirc king of Muscraige was killed by Ua Oisin and Ua Fladhen in 1044, while another Ua Oisin was involved in conflict between the men of Magh Ithe and the Airgíalla in 1055.

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People

See also

References

  1. ↑ McLysaght (1972). Surnames of Ireland.
  2. ↑ O'Donovan (1856). Annals of the Four Masters (translation).
  3. ↑ Hardiman History of Galway 1820
  4. ↑ Edward Neafsey (2002). Surnames of Ireland. Irish Roots Cafe. ISBN 0-940134-97-7. ISBN 9780940134973.
  5. ↑ hoganstand.com: Irish Identity Surnames In Irish Archived 7 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ ulsterancestry.com: Ulster Ancestry Irish Family Names
  7. ↑ surnamedb.com: Surname
  8. ↑ medievalscotland.org: 16th & 17th Century Anglicized Irish Surnames
  9. ↑ irishtimes.com: Irish Ancestors Surname Hession
  10. ↑ The Reverend's Secret Mission
  11. ↑ Mairead Ni hOisin
  12. ↑ An Comhar Dramaoichta
  13. ↑ Carl Hession
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