Surname Sheeran - Meaning and Origin

Sheeran: What does the surname Sheeran mean?

Sheeran is an Irish surname that originated from the Gaelic phrase ‘O’Siochain.’ It means ‘descendant of Siochain’ which is an ancient Irish first name. The original forms of this family name were O'Shiadhain, O'Sheeran and O'Sheran. It is likely derived from the name Siadhain, which originally had the meaning of “well going” or “prosperity.”

The Sheeran’s typically come from counties Cork, Limerick and Wexford in Ireland, where they were classified as a sept of the Corca Laidhe people and were involved with the Earl of Desmond Ui Cobhthaigh family of the Munster province.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, some of the Sheeran family members emigrated to England and Scotland while others left Ireland to settle in the United States and Canada.

Today, the Sheeran surname is found in many parts of the world, but has retained its Irish origins throughout the centuries. Despite the passage of time, many Sheeran families have worked hard to keep their ancestral traditions alive and to preserve their surname in honor of their Irish heritage.

Sheeran: Where does the name Sheeran come from?

The last name Sheeran is most commonly found in the U.K., Ireland, and the U.S., with the highest concentration in Ireland. According to the website Forebears, the Sheeran surname is most predominately found in Ireland, where it ranks as the 206th most common last name. It is also found in England, where it is the 945th most common surname. In the United States, Sheeran is a moderately common name, ranking as the 4,994th most common last name.

The surname is also found in Australia, where it is the 1,120th most common surname. It is also found in Canada, where the Sheeran name ranks at around 5,000th in popularity.

The Sheeran name is believed to have been derived from the Gaelic word “síorán”, which means “constant”. Despite its roots in Ireland, the surname is quite variable in spelling, with the addition of additional letters such as “ ae”, hyphens, and other variations. The Sheeran name was first seen in County Cork in Ireland in the 14th century, and spread through the country and beyond via emigration and migration.

Given its wide geographical dispersion, it is likely that the Sheeran name will continue to remain a moderately common last name in the countries it is currently found in.

Variations of the surname Sheeran

The surname Sheeran has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Hearn, Sheerin, Sheeren, Shearing, Sheran, Sherin, Shering, Searin, Searon, Shirran, Shearan, Shirin, Shiron, Shuran and Shurran.

The origin of the surname Sheeran is found among Irish and Scottish families, with the given name of Sheeran likely being an Anglicized form of the Gaelic given name Ó Siadhrai, which is a compound name composed of two elements, “siadh”, meaning “moving” or “hunting” and “rai”, which means “king”. This name was adopted as a surname by the descendants of the Ó Siadhrai clan as their family grew and spread throughout the British Isles.

The Sheeran surname can also be an Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Siodhra, composed of the elements “sio” meaning “peace” and “drai” which is a form of “rai”, again meaning “king.” This clan is found in Kerry and other parts of Southern Ireland and are descended from Siodhra, the son of Cairbre, a 4th century King of Munster.

The surname Sheeran is also found among Scottish families, where it likely originated from Siodharach, the son of Conal, who was granted lands in Ayrshire in the 13th century. His family later adopted the surname Sheerin.

Overall, the spelling of the surname Sheeran includes numerous variations and spellings depending on the location of origin, from which these evolved as the family spread across the British Isles.

Famous people with the name Sheeran

• Ed Sheeran: Pop sensation Ed Sheeran has been the most successful British singer-songwriter of the 2010s, topping the charts with hit singles like "The A Team," "Thinking Out Loud," and "Shape of You."
• Kevin Sheeran: Irish actor and director Kevin Sheeran was best known for his role as Father Curran in the 2015 television series Red Rock.
• John Sheeran: American actor John Sheeran starred in the comedy film Et tu Babe and appeared in the comedy series It Only Hurts When I Laugh.
• Todd Sheeran: American football player Todd Sheeran played in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Paddy Sheeran: Irish Gaelic football player Paddy Sheeran represented his country in several competitions, most notably the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
• Shane Sheeran: Canadian voice actor Shane Sheeran has lent his talents to numerous animated films and television series.
• Phoebe Sheeran: American actress Phoebe Sheeran has made appearances in a number of films including the comedy Men in Black 3 and the horror flicks Ouija and As Above, So Below.
• Angie Sheeran: English actress Angie Sheeran has starred in television series such as Coronation Street and Doctors and is currently a recurring character on the Sky One show Bulletproof.
• Ned Sheeran: Irish artist Ned Sheeran is best known for his large-scale murals depicting historical Irish figures, which can be seen around Dublin.
• Alistair Sheeran: English voice actor Alistair Sheeran has provided his voice to characters in games like the World of Warcraft and Overwatch.

Other surnames

SheerSheerinSheers