Show ContentsMcShenaghy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname McShenaghy originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Sionnaigh, derived from the word "sionnach," which means "fox." 1

Early Origins of the McShenaghy family

The surname McShenaghy was first found in County Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) located in Southwestern Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the McShenaghy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McShenaghy research. Another 188 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1624, 1627, 1661, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1685, 1689, 1691, 1716, 1749 and 1806 are included under the topic Early McShenaghy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McShenaghy Spelling Variations

Names from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name McShenaghy revealed many variations, including Fox, McFox, McShanaghy, McShinagh, McShinnock and others.

Early Notables of the McShenaghy family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was George Fox (1624-1691), an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, better known as the Quakers or Friends; Sir Stephen Fox (1627-1716)...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McShenaghy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McShenaghy family

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name McShenaghy or a variant listed above, including: Edward Fox who settled in Virginia in 1649; Francis Fox settled in Virginia in 1639; George Fox settled in Virginia in 1635; John Fox also settled in Virginia in the same year.



The McShenaghy 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: Sionnach aboo
Motto Translation: The fox to victory


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)


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