PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FAHEY FAMILY TREE
1. Introduction
This family tree history has been a long time coming.
The latest catalyst for a shared resource has been the meeting of several cousins at a funeral.
It is hoped that the history contained in this website can be refined by future generations.
2. Background
Cousins Gaye Keir (second child of Graham and Norma Keir), Mark Fahey (second child of John, known as Jack, and Joyce Fahey) and Warren Fahey (only child of Arthur and Gwen Fahey) have initially contributed to this website as they each expressed a desire to learn more about their family history.
Credit goes to Gaye who compiled a significant amount of information initially some years ago. This website simply harnesses that information and extends it using the newer resources and research information available especially from an ever expanding number of individual contributors!.
Further, as a consequence of other communications (Family reunion advertisements and Family Apps) a number of Fahey descendants have come forward and actively contributed to the gathering of important information.
Special acknowledgement of extensive research undertaken on William and Elizabeth Fahey and their descendants is extended to Catherine Ryan (2.4.9.2.1A).
Further, Peter Hainsworth's (4.14.1.1.1A) significant contributions as a descendant of Edward Fahey are also appreciated.
In recent times appreciation is extended to Terry Flowers (6.5.1.1.1A), Michelle Maunder (1.3.5.1.10.1A), Christine Glover (1.3.4.3.1.1A), Ruth Fahey (3.1.3.1.1B) and Ray Thomas.
All contributions are appreciated and acknowledged!
3. Purpose of the Family Tree
Most people are curiously disposed to learning about their forebears.
Natural questions arise, such as:
The purpose then of this website is to methodically set out as much salient information as possible on the descendants of the Fahey family in Australia.
Predominantly, there has been a restriction to the paternal line as there simply needs to be boundaries or the tree will become overwhelming both in time and size!
This family tree history has been a long time coming.
The latest catalyst for a shared resource has been the meeting of several cousins at a funeral.
It is hoped that the history contained in this website can be refined by future generations.
2. Background
Cousins Gaye Keir (second child of Graham and Norma Keir), Mark Fahey (second child of John, known as Jack, and Joyce Fahey) and Warren Fahey (only child of Arthur and Gwen Fahey) have initially contributed to this website as they each expressed a desire to learn more about their family history.
Credit goes to Gaye who compiled a significant amount of information initially some years ago. This website simply harnesses that information and extends it using the newer resources and research information available especially from an ever expanding number of individual contributors!.
Further, as a consequence of other communications (Family reunion advertisements and Family Apps) a number of Fahey descendants have come forward and actively contributed to the gathering of important information.
Special acknowledgement of extensive research undertaken on William and Elizabeth Fahey and their descendants is extended to Catherine Ryan (2.4.9.2.1A).
Further, Peter Hainsworth's (4.14.1.1.1A) significant contributions as a descendant of Edward Fahey are also appreciated.
In recent times appreciation is extended to Terry Flowers (6.5.1.1.1A), Michelle Maunder (1.3.5.1.10.1A), Christine Glover (1.3.4.3.1.1A), Ruth Fahey (3.1.3.1.1B) and Ray Thomas.
All contributions are appreciated and acknowledged!
3. Purpose of the Family Tree
Most people are curiously disposed to learning about their forebears.
Natural questions arise, such as:
- where and when were they born?
- did they marry/cohabit with someone?
- did they have children?
- do we have a photo of them?
- what do we know about their characters?
- are there any media articles about them?
The purpose then of this website is to methodically set out as much salient information as possible on the descendants of the Fahey family in Australia.
Predominantly, there has been a restriction to the paternal line as there simply needs to be boundaries or the tree will become overwhelming both in time and size!
4 Definitions
Genealogical data can be represented in several formats, for example as a pedigree or ancestry chart.
A family tree, or pedigree chart, is a chart representing family relationships in a conventional tree structure.
Family trees are often presented with the oldest generations at the top and the newer generations at the bottom. An ancestry chart, which is a tree showing the ancestors of an individual, will more closely resemble a tree in shape, being wider at the top than the bottom.
In some ancestry charts, an individual appears on the left and his or her ancestors appear to the right.
A descendancy chart, which depicts all the descendants of an individual will be narrowest at the top.
Family trees can have many themes. One might encompass all direct descendants of a single figure, or all known ancestors of a living person. Another might include all members of a particular surname (e.g. male-line descendants).
Our “Fahey Family Tree” will show all the “Fahey” ancestors or descendants of John Fahey and his wife Honor Ruhon.
There are two theories: addressed in the section Early Fahey History in Australia.
Whichever theory is correct ultimately, the six Fahey sons arrived in Australia on 7 September 1841 on board "United Kingdom" which departed Liverpool 25 May 1841. Further, they had been sponsored by A.B. Smith and Company and when each of the brothers married they settled in a small town named Appin which is near Campbelltown NSW.
The Catholic Church in Appin is St Bedes located at the corner of Appin Road and Church Street Appin. Click here to see some recent pictures of the Church.
Records of 21 Faheys buried at St Bedes may be viewed by clicking here.
5. Fahey Derivation
Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Fathaidh or Ó Fathaigh ‘descendant of Fathadh’ a personal name derived from fothadh ‘base foundation’. This name is sometimes Anglicized as Green(e) as a result of erroneous association with faithche ‘lawn’.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022.
6. Fahey Coat of Arms
Families of the name Fahy and its variant Fahey descend from the sept Ó Fathaigh whose territory was in the northern part of Loughrea barony in southern County Galway. The website www.HouseofNames.com states that the Irish name Fahey has a long Gaelic heritage to its credit. The original Gaelic form of the name Fahey (O Fathaigh) was derived from the word "fothadh" meaning "foundation".
At the end of the nineteenth century at least half of the Fahy and Fahey families in Ireland were still located in County Galway and, of those that were not, there was a considerable number dispersed, not far off, in the north of County Tipperary.
Due to population movement in the twentieth century the dispersal of the name is now greater and more widespread, but there is still a considerable representation of the name in County Galway and it is still found in and around Loughrea.
The pictures below show the variety of Fahey Family crests.
7. Irish Naming Conventions and Baptism Traditions
For an interesting article on "Irish Naming Conventions and Baptism Traditions" click here.
This explains why there are so many First Names repeated after the death of a child.
Genealogical data can be represented in several formats, for example as a pedigree or ancestry chart.
A family tree, or pedigree chart, is a chart representing family relationships in a conventional tree structure.
Family trees are often presented with the oldest generations at the top and the newer generations at the bottom. An ancestry chart, which is a tree showing the ancestors of an individual, will more closely resemble a tree in shape, being wider at the top than the bottom.
In some ancestry charts, an individual appears on the left and his or her ancestors appear to the right.
A descendancy chart, which depicts all the descendants of an individual will be narrowest at the top.
Family trees can have many themes. One might encompass all direct descendants of a single figure, or all known ancestors of a living person. Another might include all members of a particular surname (e.g. male-line descendants).
Our “Fahey Family Tree” will show all the “Fahey” ancestors or descendants of John Fahey and his wife Honor Ruhon.
There are two theories: addressed in the section Early Fahey History in Australia.
Whichever theory is correct ultimately, the six Fahey sons arrived in Australia on 7 September 1841 on board "United Kingdom" which departed Liverpool 25 May 1841. Further, they had been sponsored by A.B. Smith and Company and when each of the brothers married they settled in a small town named Appin which is near Campbelltown NSW.
The Catholic Church in Appin is St Bedes located at the corner of Appin Road and Church Street Appin. Click here to see some recent pictures of the Church.
Records of 21 Faheys buried at St Bedes may be viewed by clicking here.
5. Fahey Derivation
Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Fathaidh or Ó Fathaigh ‘descendant of Fathadh’ a personal name derived from fothadh ‘base foundation’. This name is sometimes Anglicized as Green(e) as a result of erroneous association with faithche ‘lawn’.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022.
6. Fahey Coat of Arms
Families of the name Fahy and its variant Fahey descend from the sept Ó Fathaigh whose territory was in the northern part of Loughrea barony in southern County Galway. The website www.HouseofNames.com states that the Irish name Fahey has a long Gaelic heritage to its credit. The original Gaelic form of the name Fahey (O Fathaigh) was derived from the word "fothadh" meaning "foundation".
At the end of the nineteenth century at least half of the Fahy and Fahey families in Ireland were still located in County Galway and, of those that were not, there was a considerable number dispersed, not far off, in the north of County Tipperary.
Due to population movement in the twentieth century the dispersal of the name is now greater and more widespread, but there is still a considerable representation of the name in County Galway and it is still found in and around Loughrea.
The pictures below show the variety of Fahey Family crests.
7. Irish Naming Conventions and Baptism Traditions
For an interesting article on "Irish Naming Conventions and Baptism Traditions" click here.
This explains why there are so many First Names repeated after the death of a child.