Sheeran History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

Ireland

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The surname Sheeran is derived from Mac Searthuin, which means son of Searthun. The personal name Searthun is equivalent to Geoffrey.

Early Origins of the Sheeran family

The surname Sheeran was first found in County Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel, where they held a family seat, some say before the Anglo Norman invasion of Ireland by Strongbow in 1172. However, others claim that it is an offshoot of the Prendergast Clan in County Mayo, where they adopted the Gaelic name of O'Sirin, and established themselves on the Donegal/Fermanagh border about the year 1250.

Early History of the Sheeran family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sheeran research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1659 and 1673 are included under the topic Early Sheeran History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sheeran Spelling Variations

Church officials and medieval scribes spelled names as they sounded; therefore, single person, could have his name spelt many different ways during their lifetime. While investigating the origins of the name Sheeran, many spelling variations were encountered, including: Shearing, Sheering, Sheeran, Sharron, Sherren, Sherran, Shirran, Sheeran, Sheerin, O'Shearing, O'Sheering, O'Sheeran, O'Sharron, O'Sherren, O'Sherran, O'Shirran, O'Sheeran, O'Shearing and many more.

Early Notables of the Sheeran family

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

Sheeran Ranking

In the United States, the name Sheeran is the 17,996^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Sheeran migration to the United States +

Ireland went through one of the most devastating periods in its history with the arrival of the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Many also lost their lives from typhus, fever and dysentery. And poverty was the general rule as tenant farmers were often evicted because they could not pay the high rents. Emigration to North America gave hundreds of families a chance at a life where work, freedom, and land ownership were all possible. For those who made the long journey, it meant hope and survival. The Irish emigration to British North America and the United States opened up the gates of industry, commerce, education and the arts. Early immigration and passenger lists have shown many Irish people bearing the name Sheeran:

Sheeran Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Catherine Sheeran, aged 18, who landed in New York in 1849 2
Edward Sheeran, aged 23, who landed in America, in 1893
Eliza Sheeran, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896

Sheeran Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Beatric Sheeran, aged 19, who landed in America from Ballymote, Ireland, in 1907
Bridget Sheeran, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Ballymote, Ireland, in 1909
Cecelia Sheeran, aged 24, who landed in America from Kildare, Ireland, in 1912
Ellen Sheeran, aged 24, who settled in America from Kildare, Ireland, in 1912
James Sheeran, aged 24, who landed in America from Mountrath, Ireland, in 1914
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sheeran migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sheeran Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Bryan Sheeran, aged 45 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Emigrant" departing 11th August 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 3rd October 1847 but he died on board 3

Sheeran migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Sheeran Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Michael Sheeran, aged 25, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hudson" in 1879
Catherine Sheeran, aged 17, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hudson" in 1879

Contemporary Notables of the name Sheeran (post 1700) +

Edward Christopher "Ed" Sheeran (b. 1991), English Grammy Award nominated singer-songwriter and musician
Patrick Sheeran, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Hudson County, 1874-75, 1880 4
Lawrence A. Sheeran, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Westchester County 1st District, 1921 4
Laura Sheeran (b. 1987), Irish singer and musician, composer, cousin of Ed Sheeran
Paul W Sheeran, American Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Mark Sheeran (b. 1982), former English professional football striker
Paschal Sheeran, Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Sheffield
Ambassador Josette Sheeran Shiner, American Under Secretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs for the United States Department of State

The Sheeran 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: Vincit Veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers.