| ![Show Contents]() Shahan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Ireland The surname Shahan is originally a name that appeared in Gaelic as Ó Seanachain, which is derived from the word "sean," meaning "old." Early Origins of the Shahan familyThe surname Shahan was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Early History of the Shahan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shahan research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1318, 1802, 1863, 1877, 1916 and 1937 are included under the topic Early Shahan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Shahan Spelling VariationsDuring 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 Shahan revealed many variations, including Shanahan, O'Shanahan, Shahan, Shannon, Gilshenan and many more. Early Notables of the Shahan familyAnother 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shahan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Shahan RankingIn the United States, the name Shahan is the 10,427th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
| Shahan migration to the United States | + |
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 Shahan or a variant listed above:
Shahan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Margt. Shahan, aged 28, who arrived in America, in 1896
- Delia Shahan, aged 27, who arrived in America, in 1896
Shahan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Mary Shahan, aged 26, who arrived in America from Butterant, Cork, in 1905
- William Charles Shahan, aged 27, who arrived in America from Twickenham, England, in 1907
- Natalie Shahan, aged 24, who arrived in America from Liverpool, England, in 1909
- Thomas J. Shahan, aged 56, who arrived in America, in 1913
- Katie Shahan, aged 10, who arrived in America from Canterbury, Ireland, in 1915
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Shahan (post 1700) | + |
- Robert Reed "Bob" Shahan (1939-2020), American divine, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona from 1992 to 2004
- Thomas Joseph Shahan (1857-1932), American Roman Catholic theologian and educator, Rector of the Catholic University of America (1909-1928)
 |
