The McSheedy surname is an Anglicized form, or in some cases a translation of the Gaelic Ó Síoda, where "síoda," means "silk."
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Early Origins of the McSheedy family
The surname McSheedy was first found in Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat as Lords and Chiefs in Clann Coilein in western Clare in the territory of the MacNamaras known as the MacNamara Fionn, and from whom they were descended. After the Norman Conquest of Ireland in 1172, many Irish clann and sept names were intermixed and family groupings became almost indistinguishable. This family name was found later after the Cromwellian Invasion in Cork, Tipperary, Limerick, but few were to be found in the Clann Coilein.
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Early History of the McSheedy family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McSheedy research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McSheedy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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McSheedy Spelling Variations
Names during the Middle Ages were typically recorded as they sounded and in many cases, one's surname spelling changed with each record. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origin of the McSheedy family name include Sheedy, McSheedy, O'Sheedy, Sheady, Silk, Silke and many more.
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Early Notables of the McSheedy family
More information is included under the topic Early McSheedy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the McSheedy family
Irish families began leaving their homeland for North America in the late 18th century. These families were usually modestly well off, but they were looking forward to owning and working on a sizable tract of land of their own. This pattern of emigration continued until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine sparked a major exodus of destitute and desperate Irish people. These people were not leaving for a grant of land in North America because by this time the East Coast had reached its saturation point and free land was scarce. They were merely looking to escape the disease, starvation, and hopelessness that Ireland had fallen into. Although these unfortunate immigrants did not receive a warm welcome by the established populations in the United States and what would become Canada, they were absolutely critical to the rapid development that these two nations enjoyed. They would help populate the western lands and provide the cheap labor required for a rapid industrialization. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many early bearers of the name McSheedy or one of its variants: Anne Silke, who came to Virginia in 1653; John Silke, who came to Barbados or Jamaica in 1685; Margaret Sheedy, who came to Pennsylvania in 1772; Edward Silk, who came to North Carolina in 1736.
Ireland
