Show ContentsSharky History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the Sharky family in Ireland was Ó Searcaigh, which is derived from the word "searcach," which means "loving."

Early Origins of the Sharky family

The surname Sharky was first found in Tyrone (Irish:Tír Eoghain), the ancient territory of the O'Neills, now in the Province of Ulster, central Northern Ireland, where they were established in ancient times.

Early History of the Sharky family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sharky research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1578 is included under the topic Early Sharky History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sharky Spelling Variations

Those scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Sharky family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Sharkey, O'Sharkey, Sharket, O'Serky, O'Sherkott, Sherkott, O'Sergoid and many more.

Early Notables of the Sharky family

More information is included under the topic Early Sharky Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sharky family

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Sharky: Peter Sharkey, who sailed to Virginia in 1649; George Sharkey was living in Maryland at the end of the 18th century, Barnard Sharkey sailed to Philadelphia in 1811.


Contemporary Notables of the name Sharky (post 1700) +

  • Nina Sharky, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2004 1


The Sharky Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Redit expectata diu
Motto Translation: The expected returns for a long time


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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