Shanlee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The family name Shanlee has an intrinsic connection to the Gaelic culture of Ireland. This east Connacht sept gathered their original Gaelic form of the name Shanlee is Mac Seanlaoich, which is derived from the words "sean," meaning "old," and "laoch," meaning "hero."

Early Origins of the Shanlee family

The surname Shanlee was first found in Leitrim (Irish: Liatroim) anciently the western half of the kingdom of Breifne, located in Northeastern Ireland, in Leinster province, where they held a family seat in that county, some say, well before the 10th century.

Early History of the Shanlee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shanlee research. Another 198 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1404, 1473 and 1714 are included under the topic Early Shanlee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shanlee Spelling Variations

Many different spelling variations of the surname Shanlee exist in the archives researched. Ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in a single person being recorded under several different spellings. Different spellings that were found include Shanley, Shanly, MacShanley, McShanley, MacShanly and many more.

Early Notables of the Shanlee family

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

Migration of the Shanlee family

During the middle of the 19th century, Irish families often experienced extreme poverty and racial discrimination in their own homeland under English rule. Record numbers died of disease and starvation, and many others, deciding against such a fate, boarded ships bound for North America. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Unfortunately, many of those Irish that arrived in Canada or the United States still experienced economic and racial discrimination. Although often maligned, these Irish people were essential to the rapid development of these countries because they provided the cheap labor required for the many canals, roads, railways, and other projects required for strong national infrastructures. Eventually the Irish went on to make contributions in the less backbreaking and more intellectual arenas of commerce, education, and the arts. Research early immigration and passenger lists revealed many early immigrants bearing the name Shanlee: Thomas Shanley, who settled in Charles Town, SC in 1767; Bernardo Shanly, who settled in Mississippi in 1789; James D. Shanley, who settled in Philadelphia in 1819.

The Shanlee 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: Pro patria et religione
Motto Translation: For country and religion