Submitted Surname Revision History

As an English surname, it comes from two distinct sources. It is either of Norman origin, derived from #Houssaye#, the name of an area in Seine-Maritime which ultimately derives from Old French #hous# "holly"; or it is from a Middle English nickname given to a woman who was the mistress of a household, from an alteration of #husewif# "housewife". (Note: The word #hussy# did not acquire the pejorative slang meaning until the 17th century.) As an Irish surname, it is an anglicized form of Gaelic #Ó hEodhusa# meaning "descendant of Eodhus". It belonged to an Irish family who served as bards to the Maguires of Fermanagh.