All Irish surnames have a unique and often romantic meaning. The name Shany originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Seain, which translates as son of John.
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Early Origins of the Shany family
The surname Shany was first found in County Kerry (Irish:Ciarraí) part of the former County Desmond (14th-17th centuries), located in Southwestern Ireland, in Munster province, where they were granted lands by Strongbow when he invaded Ireland in 1172.
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Early History of the Shany family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shany research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1750 is included under the topic Early Shany History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Shany Spelling Variations
Names written in official documents were generally spelt as they sounded, leading to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion in records of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Shany that are preserved in documents of the family history are McShane, McShain, McShaen, MacShane, MacShain, MacShaen, MacCheyne, McCheyne, McSheyne, MacSheyne, McCheine, McChain, MacCheine, MacChain, McChein, McShaney, McShanie and many more.
Early Notables of the Shany family
More information is included under the topic Early Shany Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Shany family
Irish families began to immigrate to British North America and the United States in the 18th century, but the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. The earlier settlers came to North America after a great deal of consideration and by paying relatively high fees for their passage. These settlers were primarily drawn by the promise of land. Those later settlers that came during the 1840's were trying to escape the conditions of poverty, starvation, disease, and death that had stricken Ireland. Due to the enormity of their numbers and the late date of their arrival, these immigrants primarily became hired laborers instead of homesteading settlers like their predecessors. An exhaustive search of immigration and passenger lists has revealed many Irish immigrants North America bearing the name Shany: John and Joseph McShain settled in Philadelphia in 1860.
Ireland
