Shaen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Shaen

What does the name Shaen mean?

All Irish surnames have a unique and often romantic meaning. The name Shaen originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Seain, which translates as son of John.

Early Origins of the Shaen family

The surname Shaen was first found in County Kerry (Irish:Ciarraí) part of the former County Desmond (14th-17th centuries), located in Southwestern Ireland, in Munster province, where they were granted lands by Strongbow when he invaded Ireland in 1172.

Early History of the Shaen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shaen research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1750 is included under the topic Early Shaen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shaen Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, a standardized literary language known by the general population of Ireland was a thing of fiction. When a person's name was recorded by one of the few literate scribes, it was up that particular scribe to decide how to spell an individual's name. So a person could have several spelling variations of his name recorded during a single lifetime. Research into the name Shaen revealed many variations, including McShane, McShain, McShaen, MacShane, MacShain, MacShaen, MacCheyne, McCheyne, McSheyne, MacSheyne, McCheine, McChain, MacCheine, MacChain, McChein, McShaney, McShanie and many more.

Early Notables of the Shaen family

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

Migration of the Shaen family

The 18th century saw the slow yet steady emigration of Irish families to British North America and the United States. Those early Irish settlers that left their homeland were typically moderately well off: they were enticed by the promise of a sizable plot of land. However, by the 1840s, this pattern of immigration was gone: immigrants to North America were seeking refuge from the starvation and disease that the Great Potato Famine of that decade brought. The great numbers of Irish that arrived to the United States and the soon to be Canada were instrumental in their quick development as powerful industrial nations. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists uncovered many early immigrants bearing the name Shaen: John and Joseph McShain settled in Philadelphia in 1860.