Surname McShea - Meaning and Origin
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McShea: What does the surname McShea mean?
The surname McShea is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Mac Séagh. It is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Séagh”, with "Séagh" itself believed to be an Irish form of the English name "Geoffrey". It may also be derived from the words "siodhpheigh", meaning "peaceful" or "gentle". Like many Irish surnames, it was made when surnames began to be used in Ireland, around the 11th century, as a way to distinguish people who had the same first name. Today, individuals with the last name McShea may be found in Ireland, America, and other parts of the world due to the Irish diaspora. As with any surname, individuals with the last name McShea can have diverse heritages and family histories.
Order DNA origin analysisMcShea: Where does the name McShea come from?
The surname McShea is most commonly found today in the United States, Ireland, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The McShea surname is believed to have originated in Ireland, where it would have been predominantly found among those of Irish descent.
In the United States, McShea is most commonly found in the states of New York, Florida, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Many McShea families are believed to have been early immigrants who arrived in the United States during the mid-1800s.
In the United Kingdom, McShea can be found primarily in Northern Ireland and Scotland. There, it is believed to have originated among Gaelic families who lived in Ulster in the 17th century. In Scotland, numerous records from that same century indicate that the surname was often found in Inverness-shire and Aberdeenshire.
In Australia, there are some records that indicate that McShea families arrived in the country between the mid-1800s and early 1900s. Today, the surname is most commonly found in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.
The surname McShea today is still quite common, especially in the locations where it originally originated.
Variations of the surname McShea
The surname McShea is derived from the Irish surname Ó Siadhail, meaning ‘descendant of Siadhail’. This surname typically has many different variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin.
The most common spellings of the surname are McShea and MacShea, both of which are used interchangeably in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States. Variants of McShea include MacShay, MacShay, McShay, McCheyne, MacShee, MacCheyne and MacCheyney.
Other surnames of the same origin include Shee, Sheehan, Sheean, O'Shea, Shea, O'Shee, Sheey and Shiels. These typically have somewhat different spellings from the more common McShea, but they still refer to the same ancestral roots.
McShea is also sometimes spelt with a double ‘s’, which is more commonly found in the United States. It is sometimes spelt as McSha, although this spelling is very rare.
In addition to the various spellings and surnames, McShea also has several unique nicknames. These include Shea, Shay, Shays, Shae, Shee and Shiel. These nicknames are typically used rather than the full surname, although they still refer to the common McShea surname.
Overall, McShea is a very common surname due to its multiple variants, spellings and nicknames. It is derived from the Irish surname ‘Ó Siadhail’, although its exact origin is somewhat unknown. No matter the spelling, however, the surnames of McShea will always connect to a common familial background.
Famous people with the name McShea
- Paul McShea: Former Major League Baseball player
- J. Terence McShea: American economist and essayist
- Sean McShea: Professional Equine Trainer
- Craig McShea: Former Australian Rules Footballer
- Patrick McShea: American Physicist
- Darragh McShea: Irish fiddle player
- Christopher McShea: American Catholic Bishop
- Willie McShea: Former principal of the University of Notre Dame
- Sarah McShea: Irish political scientist
- Thomas McShea Jr.: Former American lawyer
- Emily McShea: English actress and singer
- Kenneth McShea: Scottish footballer
- David McShea: American zoologist
- Robbie McShea: Scottish Footballer
- William McShea: American photographer
- Mathew McShea: Irish Gaelic football player
- Michael McShea: American visual artist