O'Behind History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of O'Behind

The Irish name O'Behind comes from the Gaelic name Ó Beachain, possibly derived from the word "beach," which means "bee." It was also an Anglicized version of the Gaelic personal name Beathán, from "beatha," meaning "life." 1

Early Origins of the O'Behind family

Early History of the O'Behind family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Behind research. Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Behind History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Behind Spelling Variations

The search for the origins of the name O'Behind family name revealed numerous spelling variations. These variants can be somewhat accounted for when it is realized that before widespread literacy people only recognized their name by pronunciation; it was up to scribes to decide how it was to be formally recorded. Variations found include Behan, Beehan, Beaghan, O'Behan, Beehan, Beagan, O'Beaghan, O'Behen, Behen and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Behind family

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

Migration of the O'Behind family

Thousands of Irish left in their homeland in the 18th and 19th centuries to escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, and in the search of a plot of land to call their own. These immigrants arrived at the eastern shores of North America, early on settling and breaking the land, and, later, building the bridges, canals, and railroads essential to the emerging nations of United States and Canada. Many others would toil for low wages in the dangerous factories of the day. Although there had been a steady migration of Irish to North America over these years, the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name O'Behind or a variant listed above: James Behan who arrived in New York City in 1822; Henry Behan settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1854; Michael Beehan settled in Philadelphia in 1868.