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The surname Hetherington, particularly when of Irish descent, is not originally Irish but rather of English origin. It is a locational surname, deriving from a place called Hetherington in Northumberland, near the Scottish border. The name itself likely originates from the Old English elements "h��", meaning heath or heather, and "tun", meaning enclosure or settlement; therefore, it translates to "settlement on the heath."

Over time, the Hetherington name spread throughout England and crossed into Scotland and Ireland as families moved for various reasons, including economic opportunities, to escape conflicts, or as a result of the movement of troops during different military campaigns.

In Ireland, the Hetherington surname may have become associated with Irish families through the process of Anglicization, during which traditional Gaelic names were converted into their English equivalents or similar-sounding names. This process was particularly prevalent in the 17th century when the British Crown undertook the colonization of Ireland, known as the Plantation of Ulster, which brought many English and Scottish settlers to the island. Some of these settlers likely bore the Hetherington surname, and over time, their descendants may have become part of the Irish population. As a result, while the Hetherington surname has English roots, those with this surname of Irish descent may have a complex and intertwined heritage reflective of the historical migrations and cultural exchanges between England, Scotland, and Ireland.

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