Sheiman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland
• England

Etymology of Sheiman

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

While most of the family claim Ireland as their ancient homeland, England may be an origin of the family too, as Sheen can be found in Surrey and Staffordshire. 1

Early Origins of the Sheiman family

Early History of the Sheiman family

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

Sheiman Spelling Variations

In the days before Gaelic or English gained any significant semblance of standardization, the scribes who created documents simply recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in the Middle Ages many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research into the Sheiman family history revealed numerous spelling variations of the name, including Sheehan, Sheeham, Sheahan, O'Sheehan, Sheagan and many more.

Early Notables of the Sheiman family

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

Migration of the Sheiman family

In the 18th and 19th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants landed on North American shores. Although many of them were merely looking for a free plot of land and living of their very own, many later immigrants were desperately fleeing an overcrowded land that did not have sufficient food for its inhabitants. The exodus from Ireland was greatest during the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine had stricken the island. Although this large influx of Irish was unpopular with the great majority of people already established within the major centers, these Irish were critical to the speedy development of the United States and those colonies that would eventually become known as Canada. These immigrants provided the cheap labor required to build modern roads, bridges, canals, and railways. Research of passenger and immigration lists has shown a number of immigrants to North America baring the name of Sheiman: Cornelius Sheagan who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1842; John, Morris and Thomas Sheehan arrived in Philadelphia between 1850 and 1870; Denis Sheeham arrived in Maryland in 1774.