Heiu was the first woman to take the vow and habit of a nun in the Kingdom of the Northumbria. She was consecrated by St. Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne and founded a monastery at Hereteu (Hartlepool). She soon left this establishment, however, being succeeded there by St. Hilda, and went to Tadcaster. The village of Healaugh, three miles from Tadcaster, is supposed to be on the site of her second foundation. The name was perhaps originally Heiulseg: Heiu's territory. The lady died on 12th March, sometime in the mid-7th century. In the past she has been confused with St. Begu of Hackness.

Edited from Agnes Dunbar's "A Dictionary of Saintly Women" (1904).