Surname Sheehy - Meaning and Origin

Sheehy: What does the surname Sheehy mean?

The last name Sheehy is of Irish origin, and likely derived from the ancient Gaelic name O'Shea, which in turn may have come from the personal name Seaghdha, meaning “hawk-like”. This name was found in various spellings throughout Ireland, including Sheehy, Sheahy, Sheehey, and Shanehie.

The Sheehy family in Ireland is believed to descend from the O'hEigeasra sept of County Limerick and the Mac Sheacdy sept in County Waterford. Both of these septs trace their lineage back to a common ancestor, a man named Giollawell Mac Sheenan. A branch of the Sheehys, led by John Moriarty Sheehy, settled in southwestern Nova Scotia in the late 1700s and became known as the Sheehy Garrison Family. They were actively involved in lumbering, fishing, and farming in the area.

The Sheehys have also spread out and taken root all around the world, with large numbers of Sheehys settling in Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland and the United States. In the US, Sheehys can be found in all states except for the peripheral ones of Alaska and Hawaii.

No matter where on the globe the Sheehys have landed, they are known for their loyalty, integrity, and hard working nature. They are also undaunted in their pursuit of any task that lies ahead and are sure to achieve great success in anything that they do.

Sheehy: Where does the name Sheehy come from?

The last name Sheehy is most commonly found in Ireland and the Irish diaspora. It is thought to be an anglicized form of the Irish "Ó Siodhacháin" which is derived from the first name "Siodhachán" meaning "peaceful one".

In Ireland, Sheehy is primarily found in south Munster, in Counties Cork and Kerry. An analysis of the last name's spread shows it has also become increasingly common in the 21st century in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

In the U.S., the last name Sheehy is most commonly found in States like New York and Massachusetts, as well as other Northeastern states in addition to California, Illinois, and Florida. The latest data from the 2000-2018 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the last name Sheehy has risen in popularity over the past 20 years, particularly in Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.

In Australia, Sheehy is one of the most common surnames today, ranking highly on the FamilyNames.org.au database of the most popular surnames in Australia. It also remains common in other countries in the British Isles, particularly in Northern Ireland where it is in the top 100 most common surnames.

Overall, Sheehy is a relatively popular name in much of the Irish diaspora today, from its origins in Ireland to its newfound popularity in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and other countries worldwide.

Variations of the surname Sheehy

The surname Sheehy is an Irish version of the surname McSheehy or O'Sheehy which is derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Sheachnaill', and also written as MacSheehy, O'Sheachain and MacSheehan. It is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Síocháin, which is derived from the personal name ‘Síochán’, which translates to ‘peaceful’ or ‘soothing’.

Variants of the surname Sheehy include: Sheachain, Sheachan, Sheachane, Sheahan, Sheagane, Sheagan, sheakane, Sheakin, Sheehan, Shehan, Sheeghan, Shehigane, Sheighane, Sheighan, Sheihane, MacSheehy, O'Sheehy, and MacSheehan.

In the United States, the surnames Sheehan and Sheahan were both among the top 1,000 surnames, with Sheehan ranking farther down at number 847.

Related spellings of the surname Sheehy include Shaughnessy, McShay, Schy, Shiach, and Sheachy. Other variations include the Irish-American surnames Shea and Shay. Some of these spellings and variants of the surname may also be found in Scotland, where the surname was also historically used.

In some instances, the surname Sheehy may also have been Anglicized from the Jewish surname Shapiro.

The surname Sheehy can be found around the world, particularly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Famous people with the name Sheehy

• Gerald Sheehy: an American former politician and lawyer.
• Steve Sheehy: an Australian former professional rugby league player.
• Paul Sheehy: a former professional soccer player.
• Siobhan Sheehy: a former professional soccer player.
• Conan Sheehy: an Irish actor.
• Scott Sheehy: an American actor and singer.
• Sean Sheehy: an American athlete and long-distance runner.
• Eddie Sheehy: an Irish former Gaelic footballer.
• Sarah Sheehy: an American beauty pageant winner.
• Ruth Sheehy: an Irish former beauty queen.
• Aileen Sheehy: a former Irish snooker player.
• George Sheehy: an American former Major League Baseball player.
• Nathan Sheehy: an Irish former professional hurler.
• Conor Sheehy: an Irish actor and film/TV producer.
• Seamus Sheehy: an Irish County Council chairman.
• Mick Sheehy: an Irish former footballer and manager.
• James Sheehy: an Irish artist and cartoonist.

Other surnames

Sheehan