Henry family genealogy

[1] Arms: Az. a fess betw. three pelicans ar. vulned ppr. Crest: A pelican's head erased vulning itself ppr. Motto: Fideliter.

HENRY, brother of Aibhneach who is No. 114 on the "O'Cahan" pedigree, was the ancestor of Clan Henry, modernized Henry, MacHenry and Fitzhenry.

114. Henry [2] O'Cahan or O'Kane: son of Dermod; a quo "Clan Henry."

115. Dermod Henry: his son; first assumed this sirname.

116. Conor: his son.

117. Giolla-Padraic: his son.

118. James: his son.

119. Giolla-Padraic (2): his son.

120. Geoffrey Henry: his son; living in 1691.

(This family is (in 1887) represented by Mitchell Henry, Esq., of Kylemore Castle, county Galway, and of Stratheden House, Hyde Park, S.W., London; but in this edition we are unable to trace the descent.)

Notes

[1] Henry: Of this family was James Henry, M.D., scholar and author, born in Dublin in 1799. Having been bequeathed a large legacy, he abandoned the medical profession, and devoted himself to literary pursuits. About the year 1848, he began to travel through Europe with his wife and only child, and to make researches on his favourite author, Virgil. After the death of his wife in the Tyrol (where he succeeded in cremating her and carrying off her ashes, which he preserved ever after), he continued to travel with his daughter, who, brought up after his own heart, emulated him in all his tastes and opinions, and who learned to assist him thoroughly and ably in his Virgilian studies. It was the habit of this curious pair to wander on foot, without luggage, through all parts of Europe, generally hunting for some ill-collated MS. of Virgil's Æneid, or for some rare edition or commentator. Having examined every MS. of the Æneid of any value, he returned to Dublin, when declining years disposed him to rest, and where the Library of Trinity College afforded him a rich supply of early printed books on his subject. In 1873 appeared his Æneidea: or Critical, Exegetical, and Æsthetical Remarks on the Æneid, with the following dedication: "To my beloved daughter, Katherine Olivia Henry, etc., I give, dedicate, and consecrate all that part of this work which is not her own." His daughter's death, shortly after the appearance of that book, was a terrible blow to him. He himself passed away, on the 14th July, 1876. A full list of his publications will be found in the Academy, of the 12th August, 1876, in the ample notice, by his friend Dr. Mahaffy, from which this sketch is taken.—WEBB.

[2] Henry: The name "Henry" is derived from the Irish An Righ [an ree], "the king." This Henry O'Kane is considered to have been so called after one of the Henrys, kings of England. As MacHenry and FitzHenry signify "the sons or descendants of Henry," and that Harry is the common name for "Henry," some are of opinion that "MacHenry" is another name for Harrison, which would mean "the son of Harry;" and that Harris and Fitzharris are branches of the "Clan Henry."