Sheahan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The spelling and overall form of Irish names tend to vary widely. The original Gaelic form of the name Sheahan is Ó Siodhachain, which may be derived from "siodhach," which means "peaceful."

Early Origins of the Sheahan family

The surname Sheahan was first found in County Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) located in Southwestern Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

Early History of the Sheahan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sheahan research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sheahan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sheahan Spelling Variations

The scribes and church officials of the Middle Ages who recorded names in official documents spelled the names as they sounded. This led to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations and thus resembling more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Sheahan that are preserved in archival documents of this era include Sheehan, Sheeham, Sheahan, O'Sheehan, Sheagan and many more.

Early Notables of the Sheahan family

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

Sheahan Ranking

In the United States, the name Sheahan is the 12,731^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Sheahan migration to the United States +

Irish emigration to North America began modestly in the late 18th century. At this time, Irish families made the journey to British North America and the United States by choice and after careful consideration: they were primarily in search of a suitably large stretch of land to call their own. This pattern would change most dramatically during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For example, the years 1825-1845 saw approximately 450,000 heading to British North America and 400,000 to the United States, but in 1847, at the height of the famine, it is estimated that more than 104,000 Irish immigrants went to British North America and more than 119,000 to the United States. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many early immigrants bearing the name Sheahan:

Sheahan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Sheahan, aged 30, who arrived in Missouri in 1845 2
Patrick Sheahan, who landed in DeWitt County, Illinois in 1854 2

Sheahan migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sheahan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Catherine Sheahan, aged 23, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 3

Sheahan 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:

Sheahan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Denis Sheahan, aged 26, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Assaye" in 1874 4
Mr. Denis Sheahan, British settler travelling from London, UK with 1 child aboard the ship "Assaye" arriving in Auckland, North Island, New Zealand on 26th December 1874 4
William James Sheahan, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Salisbury" in 1876
Mr. Edmund Sheahan, (b. 1855), aged 22, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Marlborough" arriving in Bluff, South Island, New Zealand on 4th November 1877 4
Mr. David Sheahan, (b. 1855), aged 22, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Marlborough" arriving in Bluff, South Island, New Zealand on 4th November 1877 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Sheahan (post 1700) +

Tom Sheahan (b. 1968), Irish Fine Gael politician, Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Kerry South (2007-2011)
John Sheahan (b. 1939), Irish violinist, tin whistle player, folk musician and composer, last surviving member of The Dubliners
Gerald Sheahan (b. 1872), former Australian rules footballer who played from Melbourne in 1897
Pat Sheahan, Canadian head coach of Queen's University's football team, Kingston, Ontario
William Peter Sheahan (b. 1953), Australian Test cricket match umpire
Riley Michael Sheahan (b. 1991), Canadian NHL ice hockey centre for the Detroit Red Wings
Terence William "Terry" Sheahan AO (b. 1947), Australian judge and former politician, Member for Burrinjuck, NSW (1973-1988)
Michael "Mike" Sheahan (b. 1947), Australian journalist
William Francis "Billy" Sheahan QC (1895-1975), Australian politician, Member for Yass, NSW (1941-1950), and for Burrinjuck (1950-1973)
Maurie Sheahan (1905-1956), Australian rules footballer
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
South Australian Register Wednesday 21st February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1855.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html