SHEEHAN
Sheehan is a surname of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic patronymic Ó Síodhacháin; the prefix Ó denotes male descent, while the root Síodhachán is a diminutive of siodhach, meaning “peaceful, gentle or courteous”. The name may also be interpreted as “descendant of a silk worker”, since the personal byname is linked to the Gaelic word síoda for silk.
The surname originally belonged to a clan in County Clare, but migration southwards saw it settle in Counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick, where it remains most common today. In contemporary records it ranks at the seventy‑fifth most widespread name in Ireland, the variant Sheahan sharing the same ranking. A medieval branch of the family, known as O'Sheehan, once occupied territory in Ui Maine (mid‑Galway and south Ross‑county), but it is now rarely found in Connacht.
Heraldically, the family’s coat of arms consists of a blue shield set on a green base, upon which a silver dove holds an olive branch. The crest mirrors the shield, depicting a silver dove again holding an olive branch. These symbols are interpreted as representations of peace and goodwill, echoing the gentle aspect of the name.
A notable bearer of the surname is Michael Sheehan (1870–1945), who served as Archbishop of Sydney. He was associated with Kings College and played a role in the revival of the Irish language in the early twentieth century. The earliest recorded spelling of the surname appears in Petty’s Census of Ireland, dated 1659: John Sheehan of County Cork. This document was produced during the reign of Richard Cromwell, The Lord Protector, 1658–1660.
Typical given names associated with the Sheehan surname
Male
- Anthony
- Christopher
- Daniel
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
Female
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jane
- Kathleen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Shahan
- Shahani
- Cheeham
- Shahane
- Shahana
- Shahein
- Chahin
- Chahine
- Chauhan
- Chawhan
- Chhina
- Chohan
- Chouhan
- Chowhan
- Chuhan
- Seyhan
- Shaheen
- Shahian
- Shahin
- Shahini
- Shahjehan
- Sheaham
- Sheahan
- Sheahn
- Shean
- Sheane
- Shechan
- Sheean
- Sheeham
- Sheehaw
- Sheehea
- Sheehean
- Sheehen
- Sheehy
- Sheen
- Sheena
- Sheene
- Sheenhan
- Sheeny
- Shehab
- Shehan
- Shehean
- Shehen
- Sheiham
- Shenahan
- Sherhan
- Shuhan
- Skehan
- Shahena
- Sheanh
- Shihan
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Sheehan in...
Braille
⠎⠓⠑⠑⠓⠁⠝
Morse
..............--.
Semaphore
There are approximately 7,180 people named Sheehan in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,315th most common surname in Britain. Around 110 in a million people in Britain are named Sheehan.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Sheehan
- Robert Sheehan - Irish actor
- Josh Sheehan - Welsh football player
- Pat Sheehan - Politician
- Bobby Sheehan - American ice hockey player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.