Shannan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Shannan

What does the name Shannan mean?

The Hebrides islands and Western coastal mountains of Scotland were once part of the ancient kingdom of Dalriada. The name Shannan was born there, as a nickname for a person noted as possessing great wisdom, or an elderly person. The surname is derived from the Irish Gaelic name O Seanain, which comes from the word sean, which has the double meaning of old and wise.

Early Origins of the Shannan family

The surname Shannan was first found in Kintyre, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Shannan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shannan research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1548 is included under the topic Early Shannan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shannan Spelling Variations

Translation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of Shannan include Shannon, Shennan, Shennane and others.

Early Notables of the Shannan family

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

Migration of the Shannan family to Ireland

Some of the Shannan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shannan migration to the United States +

Many of the ancestors of Dalriadan families who arrived in North America still live in communities along the east coast of Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence many of the original settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the ancestors of many Scots began recovering their collective national heritage through Clan societies, highland games, and other patriotic events. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Shannan or a variant listed above:

Shannan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Shannan, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 1
Andrew Shannan, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Shannan (post 1700) +

Shannan Marie Click (b. 1983), American model, known for her work in Deception (2008), Exposure: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2011 (2011) and The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (2011)

The Shannan 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: Virtute Duce
Motto Translation: With virtue for guide.

Sources +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)