Shean History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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 Shean:

Shean Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Elinor Shean, aged 60, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 1
• David Shean, aged 31, who landed in New York in 1812 1
• Darby Shean, aged 48, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1813 1

Shean Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Patrick Shean, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Timleague, Ireland, in 1902
• William Shean, aged 41, who landed in America, in 1903
• Mich Shean, aged 35, who landed in America, in 1907
• Celia Shean, aged 25, who landed in America from London England, in 1907
• Gertrude Shean, aged 8, who landed in America from Gibralter, England, in 1907
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shean Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Martin Shean, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
• Mr. Patrick Shean, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
• Mary Shean, aged 23, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Mallard" 4

Shean Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. G. Shean, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 5
• Miss Shean, Irish settler travelling from Cork aboard the ship "Spirit of Trade" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 4th December 1858 5

• David William Shean (1883-1963), American Major League Baseball reserve infielder/outfielder
• Leonard Hsing Yin Shean (1958-2021), Malaysian politician, a single-term Member of Parliament (MP) for Tanjong Aru (1986-1990)
• Al Shean (1868-1949), stage name for Abraham Elieser Adolph Schönberg, German-born comedian, half of the vaudeville team Gallagher and Shean, uncle of the Marx Brothers