Hession (pronounced "hesh + in") is an old Connacht Irish surname. It is an Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó'hOisin. In Gaelic, it is pronounced "O + hush + een". It is also seen in other forms of the surname as Ussher or Hishon.

It originated in Co. Galway and also has roots in County Mayo, County Tipperary and County Antrim. It is derived from Oisín, the poet and warrior of the fianna in Irish mythology.

The Hession family motto is "Wish nothing base".

Hassan may have an eastern look but in Ireland it is the anglicized form of Ó hOsáin. It is to be distinguished from Ó hOisín and Ó hOiseáin (see Hession and Hishon). In County Londonderry, where it is numerous, it is spelt Hassan, Hassen and Hasson. In the Monaghan Hearth Money Rolls of 1663 it appears as O'Hassan. There was a Hasson of Wexford among the "principal gentlemen" of that county in 1598, but that family was no doubt of non-Gaelic stock and a John Hassan was an influential merchant in Wexford fifty years earlier.

People

• Hugh O'Hession, first Archbishop of Tuam, Co. Galway.
• James Hession, Members of the 14th Dáil, Co. Galway.
• Jim Hession, jazz pianist
• Paul Hession, Irish international track and field athlete, Co. Galway.