O'Shean History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland
• England

Etymology of O'Shean

The spelling and overall form of Irish names tend to vary widely. The original Gaelic form of the name O'Shean 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 O'Shean family

Early History of the O'Shean family

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

O'Shean Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, a person's name was often recorded under several spelling variations during a single lifetime because it was essentially up to the individual scribe's discretion as to how to record an individual's name. Research into the name O'Shean revealed many variations, including Sheehan, Sheeham, Sheahan, O'Sheehan, Sheagan and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Shean family

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

Migration of the O'Shean family

Often leaving from racial discrimination and colonial oppression, thousands of families left Ireland in the 19th century for North America aboard passenger ships. Many early immigrants found a plot of land to call their own, something unimaginable for most Irish families. Those that arrived later were often accommodated as laborers since there was a large demand for cheap labor. This was the fate for many of the families that arrived in North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Whether they became agrarian settlers or industrial workers, the Irish that came to North America were invaluable for rapid development of the infant nations of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name O'Shean or a variant listed above: 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.