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Irish surname

O'Shea: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Séaghdha · 'descendant of Séaghdha' (stately, majestic, courteous; also learned, scientific, ingenious)

O'Shea is an anglicised form of Ó Séaghdha, 'descendant of Séaghdha'. Woulfe (1923) describes a family of Corca Dhuibhne in West Kerry, lords of Ui Rathach (the barony of Iveragh) until about the period of the Anglo-Norman invasion, with a branch that settled in Kilkenny city about the beginning of the 15th century. In Matheson's 1890 survey Shea was the 49th commonest surname in Ireland, with about 13,000 people.

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Coat of arms associated with the O'Shea surname
Irish formÓ Séaghdha
Meaning'descendant of Séaghdha' (stately, majestic, courteous; also learned, scientific, ingenious)
CountiesKerry, Kilkenny, Cork, Mayo
Other spellings3

Origin of the O'Shea name

Woulfe: a family of Corca Dhuibhne in West Kerry, lords of Ui Rathach (now the barony of Iveragh) until about the Anglo-Norman invasion. A branch settled in Kilkenny city about the beginning of the 15th century. The name was also borne by a Ui Fiachrach branch in Tirawley, Co. Mayo, 'very little known'.[1]

  1. 15th centuryAbout the beginning of the 15th century a branch settles in Kilkenny city.[1]
  2. 1769Painter Martin Archer Shee born in Dublin, 20 December.[5]
  3. 1830Shee elected President of the Royal Academy and knighted.[5]
  4. 1890Shea is Ireland's 49th commonest surname, about 13,000 people.[2]

Where in Ireland

Co. KerryLords of Iveragh until about the Anglo-Norman invasion; in 1890 more than half the Munster Shea entries were in Kerry.[1][3]
Co. KilkennyA branch settled in Kilkenny city about the beginning of the 15th century and became wealthy.[1][3]
Co. CorkIn 1890 a principal county for both Shea and O'Shea birth entries.[3][4]
Co. MayoA Ui Fiachrach branch of the name in the barony of Tirawley.[1]

Notable people named O'Shea

Sir Martin Archer Shee1769–1850Dublin-born portrait painter; President of the Royal Academy from 1830 and a Fellow of the Royal Society.[5]
Daniel Sheac. 1771–1836Dublin-born Oriental scholar; expelled from Trinity for refusing to testify against United Irishmen; translated Mirkhond.[6]

Other spellings

Shea · O'Shee · Shee[1]

The O'Shea coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the O'Shea 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'Shea crest gifts

Clan Shea Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap KJ70 Shea Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Shea Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Oshea Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap QH52 Oshea Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Oshea Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Shea Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapJW53 Classic Cap - Shea Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Shea Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Oshea Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapIT89 Classic Cap - Oshea Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Oshea Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

O'Shea surname: questions

What does the surname O'Shea mean?

Woulfe gives O'Shea as an anglicised form of Ó Séaghdha, 'descendant of Séaghdha', a name he glosses as stately, majestic, courteous; also learned, scientific, ingenious.[1]

Where in Ireland is the O'Shea family from?

Woulfe places the family in West Kerry, where they were lords of Ui Rathach, now the barony of Iveragh, until about the period of the Anglo-Norman invasion. A branch settled in Kilkenny city about the beginning of the 15th century. The name was also borne by a branch of the Ui Fiachrach in Tirawley, Co. Mayo, which Woulfe says is 'very little known'.[1]

Are Shea, O'Shea and Shee the same name?

Woulfe lists O'Shea, O'Shee, Shea and Shee among the anglicised forms of Ó Séaghdha.[1]

Which county has the most O'Sheas?

Woulfe says the O'Sheas are 'now very numerous, especially in Kerry'. In the 1890 births index more than half of the Munster entries for Shea were in Kerry.[1][3]

Sources

  1. Ó Séaghdha — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/os/o-seaghdha.php
  2. Principal Surnames in Ireland (table of 100 principal surnames, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/principal-surnames-ireland.php
  3. Shea — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/shea.php
  4. O'Shea — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/oshea.php
  5. Shee, Sir Martin Archer — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/SirMartinArcherShee.php
  6. Shea, Daniel — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/DanielShea.php

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