Shaheen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of Shaheen

The surname Shaheen is originally a name that appeared in Gaelic as Ó Seanachain, which is derived from the word "sean," meaning "old."

Early Origins of the Shaheen family

Early History of the Shaheen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shaheen research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1318, 1802, 1863, 1877, 1916 and 1937 are included under the topic Early Shaheen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shaheen Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Shaheen family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Shanahan, O'Shanahan, Shahan, Shannon, Gilshenan and many more.

Early Notables of the Shaheen family

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shaheen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shaheen family

The 18th century saw the slow yet steady emigration of Irish families to British North America and the United States. Those early Irish settlers that left their homeland were typically moderately well off: they were enticed by the promise of a sizable plot of land. However, by the 1840s, this pattern of immigration was gone: immigrants to North America were seeking refuge from the starvation and disease that the Great Potato Famine of that decade brought. The great numbers of Irish that arrived to the United States and the soon to be Canada were instrumental in their quick development as powerful industrial nations. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists uncovered many early immigrants bearing the name Shaheen: Charles Shannon, who arrived in America in 1742; James Shanahan, who was a laborer in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1779; Bridget Shannon, who was on record in Massachusetts in 1813.