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Irish surname

O'Shaughnessy: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Seachnasaigh; shortened Ó Seachnais · 'descendant of Seachnasach'

Woulfe (1923) gives O'Shaughnessy and Shaughnessy as anglicised forms of Ó Seachnasaigh, 'descendant of Seachnasach', a branch of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne in Co. Galway who became chiefs of Cinel Aodha (Kinelea), around Gort. He says Dermot O'Shaughnessy was knighted in 1533 and ten years later surrendered all the clan-lands to the crown in order to receive them back by letters-patent, and that during the next two centuries the O'Shaughnessys were one of the most celebrated families in Ireland. In 1890 Shaughnessy births were found nearly 50 per cent in Galway, and O'Shaughnessy births principally in Limerick.

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Coat of arms associated with the O'Shaughnessy surname
Irish formÓ Seachnasaigh; shortened Ó Seachnais
Meaning'descendant of Seachnasach'
CountiesGalway, Limerick
Other spellings6

Origin of the O'Shaughnessy name

Woulfe: a branch of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne, in Co. Galway. On the decline of the kindred O'Cahills in the 13th century, the O'Shaughnessys became chiefs of Cinel Aodha, anglicised Kinelea, the district around the town of Gort. They are rarely mentioned in the annals before Henry VIII's reign.[1]

  1. 13th centuryOn the O'Cahills' decline, O'Shaughnessys become chiefs of Cinel Aodha around Gort.[1]
  2. 1533Dermot O'Shaughnessy, 'chief of his nation', is knighted.[1]
  3. Ten years laterSir Dermot surrenders all the clan-lands to the crown, to receive them back by letters-patent.[1]
  4. Before 1600O'Shaughnessys settled at Dromard, near Rathkeale.[1]
  5. 1697The estate restored at the Restoration (2,000 acres) is forfeited again.[1]
  6. 1744William O'Shaughnessy, last chief in the direct line, dies in exile in France.[1]
  7. 189041 Shaughnessy entries incl. varieties (40 so spelled) and 30 O'Shaughnessy entries.[3][4][5]

Where in Ireland

Co. GalwayChiefs of Cinel Aodha (Kinelea) around Gort; Shaughnessy births 'nearly 50 per cent. in Galway' in 1890.[1][3]
Co. LimerickSettled at Dromard, near Rathkeale, before 1600; O'Shaughnessy births principally found in Limerick in 1890.[1][4]

Notable people named O'Shaughnessy

Sir Dermot O'Shaughnessyknighted 1533'Chief of his nation'; ten years later he surrendered the clan-lands to the crown to receive them back by letters-patent.[1]
William O'Shaughnessy1674–1744Head of the O'Shaughnessys of Gort from 1690; major-general in the French service; died at Gravelines.[6]
Sir William Brooke O'Shaughnessy1809–1889Born at Limerick; director-general of telegraphs in India; the Calcutta–Agra line was working by March 1854.[7]

Other spellings

Shaughnessy · O'Shoughnessy · O'Shannessy · Shannessy · O'Shanesy · Shaughness[1][3]

The O'Shaughnessy coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the O'Shaughnessy surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

O'Shaughnessy crest gifts

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O'Shaughnessy surname: questions

What does the surname O'Shaughnessy mean?

Woulfe gives O'Shaughnessy as a form of Ó Seachnasaigh, 'descendant of Seachnasach'. He gives no gloss for the personal name Seachnasach.[1]

Where in Ireland is the O'Shaughnessy name from?

Woulfe says the O'Shaughnessys were a branch of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne in Co. Galway and chiefs of Cinel Aodha (Kinelea), the district around Gort, and that the O'Shaughnessys of Co. Limerick were settled at Dromard, near Rathkeale, before 1600. In 1890 Shaughnessy births were nearly 50 per cent in Galway, and O'Shaughnessy births principally in Limerick.[1][3][4]

What happened to the O'Shaughnessy chiefs?

Woulfe says Sir Dermot O'Shaughnessy of the Cromwellian period lost the estates, received back 2,000 acres at the Restoration, and that this was forfeited again in 1697; Colonel William O'Shaughnessy, the last chief of the name in the direct line, died in exile in France in 1744.[1]

Is Shaughnessy the same name as O'Shaughnessy?

Yes. Woulfe lists Shaughnessy, Shannessy and O'Shannessy among the anglicised forms of Ó Seachnasaigh, and Shaughness and Shaughnessy under the shortened form Ó Seachnais.[1][2]

Sources

  1. Ó Seachnasaigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/os/o-seachnasaigh.php
  2. Ó Seachnais — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/os/o-seachnais.php
  3. Shaughnessy — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/shaughnessy.php
  4. O'Shaughnessy — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/oshaughnessy.php
  5. Table Explanation — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/table-explanation.php
  6. O'Shaughnessy, William (1674-1744) — Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Wikisource. en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/...
  7. O'Shaughnessy, William Brooke — Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Wikisource. en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/...

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).