Shenie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of Shenie

What does the name Shenie mean?

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

Early Origins of the Shenie family

The surname Shenie 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 Shenie family

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

Shenie Spelling Variations

Names during the Middle Ages were often recorded under several different spelling variations during the life of their bearers. Literacy was rare at that time and so how a person's name was recorded was decided by the individual scribe. Variations of the name Shenie include McShane, McShain, McShaen, MacShane, MacShain, MacShaen, MacCheyne, McCheyne, McSheyne, MacSheyne, McCheine, McChain, MacCheine, MacChain, McChein, McShaney, McShanie and many more.

Early Notables of the Shenie family

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

Migration of the Shenie family

Irish families began to immigrate to British North America and the United States in the 18th century, but the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. The earlier settlers came to North America after a great deal of consideration and by paying relatively high fees for their passage. These settlers were primarily drawn by the promise of land. Those later settlers that came during the 1840's were trying to escape the conditions of poverty, starvation, disease, and death that had stricken Ireland. Due to the enormity of their numbers and the late date of their arrival, these immigrants primarily became hired laborers instead of homesteading settlers like their predecessors. An exhaustive search of immigration and passenger lists has revealed many Irish immigrants North America bearing the name Shenie: John and Joseph McShain settled in Philadelphia in 1860.