Surname Sheehan - Meaning and Origin

Sheehan: More than a Name - A Journey Through My Genetic Heritage

The iGENEA DNA test has significantly transformed my understanding of my surname, 'Sheehan', from a mere identifier to a profound symbol of heritage. The outcomes of the genetic test provided a composite view of my ancestry, which has fundamentally reshaped how I perceive my personal identity and has fostered a deeper appreciation for my lineage.

Y. Sheehan

Sheehan: What does the surname Sheehan mean?

Sheehan is a surname of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic "Ó Siodhacháin," which means "descendant of the peaceful one" or "descendant of Siodhach". "Siodhach" roughly translates to "peaceful". So, in essence, the last name Sheehan connotes a lineage of peace. The name is particularly prevalent in counties Limerick and Cork, in Ireland. It's important to note that the spelling of Irish surnames can vary widely due to the anglicization process that occurred when English became the dominant language in Ireland. Therefore, variations of the surname Sheehan can include Sheahan, Sheehey, and Sheerin among others.

Sheehan: Where does the name Sheehan come from?

The last name Sheehan is most commonly found in Ireland. It derives from an Irish Clan O'Shea and is believed to mean "bright headed". The name is also borne by several families in Ireland who pride themselves as descendants of the ancient Kingdom of Hy Many.

As of 2018, the last name Sheehan is the 3,190th most common surname in the United States. It is quite common in different parts of the English-speaking world including the UK, Australia, and Canada.

In Ireland, Sheehan is still a fairly common surname. In fact, according to the Irish census of 2016, more than 10,000 people share this surname. It is mainly concentrated in counties Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, and Kerry.

Families bearing the name can also be found in other parts of the world, such as the US, Canada, and Australia. In the US, the most common states with the Sheehan surname are Massachusetts and New York. Canada has seen a rise in the number of those bearing this surname, with many families now living in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia.

The Sheehan family values their Irish heritage and is well recognized for the many prominent figures that have kept the name alive. One such figure is Brian Sheehan, who, in 2020, became the first person of Irish descent to become Supreme Court Chief Justice in the United States. Such contributions from the Sheehan clan have certainly aided in the remembrance and popularity of this noble Irish surname.

Variations of the surname Sheehan

The surname Sheehan is an Irish-Gaelic surname found mainly in the province of Munster in Ireland. Spellings and variants of the surname include O’Sheehan, MacSheehan, McSheehan, Sheenan, Shean, and Sheehan.

The surname is derived from the Gaelic name O'Siochain, a patronymic alias of the Old Gaelic personal name Siochad. The root word of the name is ‘sioch’, which is a Gaelic term meaning ‘peaceful’.

The name was historically anglicized to MacSheehan, Sheenan and Shean; while the prefix 'O' was added to early spellings as the inhabitants of Munster attempted to indicate their loyalty to the ancient Gaelic form of ieredom.

In modern times, the prefix 'Mac', which means ‘son of’, has been dropped and the surname is normally spelled as Sheehan.

The Sheehan surname is popular in counties Cork, Kerry, Galway, and Tipperary in particular. Those with the Sheehan surname most likely have ancestors in southwest Munster, or perhaps northern Connacht.

The Sheehans are most likely related to numerous other families, including the Sheas, Sheehys, Keehans, Sheens and Sheeanes.

Today, the Sheehan name is most commonly found in Southwestern Ireland, as well as in the US, Australia, New Zealand, and England where the name has been carried since the 19th century.

Famous people with the name Sheehan

• Patty Sheehan: Former American professional golfer, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.
• Casey Sheehan: American soldier killed in Iraq, and son of anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan.
• John Sheehan: American actor, best known for his role as Greendale Human Being on the popular television series Community.
• Karl Sheehan: English actor, popular for his role as Dr. Finlay MacLeod in the British TV series The Royal.
• Ray Sheehan: American actor, notable for roles such as a mobster in the gangster film Born to Kill and a guest role on The Beverly Hillbillies.
• Jamie Sheehan: American actor, known for his role in the Ryan Murphy Netflix horror/comedy series Scream Queens.
• Sean Sheehan: American actor, known for his role in the comedy film Spy and the television show How I Met Your Mother.
• Michael Sheehan: American writer, journalist and traveller, and author of the book A Farewell to the Earth.
• Patrick Sheehan: Irish philosopher, theologian, historian, and scholar, most notable for writing Theology for the Transport of the Soul.
• Austin Sheehan: British singer-songwriter, who is best known for his work with the band The Feeling.

Other surnames

Sheehy