Surname Shehan - Meaning and Origin

Shehan: What does the surname Shehan mean?

The last name Shehan is an Irish surname of Norman origin, derived from the Gaelic version of the French name ‘Du Chemin’, which translates to 'of the road' or 'of the way' in English. The surname likely originated when a family of Norman descent settled in Ireland during the Anglo-Norman Invasion in 1169.

The surname has often been rendered as "Shane" in English, although today there are several variations of the spelling, including Shehan, Shayne, or Sheehan.

The bearer of the surname Shehan is typically from a tradition of strong and resilient individuals who have an independent and resourceful outlook on life. This courage and resilience is likely due to the strong influence their ancestor’s Norman heritage had on the family.

The family name is also associated with the great Irish writer and poet, Patrick Shehan, who was the first member of the Sheehan family to be born in Ireland after their ancestors first settled there centuries ago.

Today, descendants of the Irish Sheehan family can be found all over the world, and the name continues to preserve its family’s unique history and strong heritage.

Shehan: Where does the name Shehan come from?

The Shehan surname is most commonly found in Sri Lanka, where it is estimated that up to 1.4 million people carry the name. It is also found in South India, especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where it is especially popular among Christians. Beyond the Indian subcontinent, the Shehan name can be found all over the world. In the United States, the name is most common in states with larger Indian American populations, such as California, Texas, New York, and New Jersey. In Asian countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines, there is also a significant Shehan population. Shehans can also be found in Europe and the Middle East, in countries like Germany, the UK, Qatar, and the UAE. Australia, too, has a small Shehan population. Ultimately, the Shehan name is distributed throughout the entire world, though it remains most popular in South Asia.

Variations of the surname Shehan

The surname Shehan has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include “Sheahan”, “O’Sheahan”, “Sheehane”, “Sheehan”, “Shehan”, “Sheehans”, “O’Sheehan”, “Shehane”, “Shehanagh”, “Shehanah”, “Shehanney”, and “Shehane”.

The surname is derived from the Gaelic surname ‘O’Seaithain’ which translates to ‘descendant of Seaathan’. This originated from the Old Irish personal name ‘Seaathain’ which can be translated to ‘small wolf’.

The spelling of the surname has altered with time and it is now present as “Sheahan”, “Sheehane”, “O’Sheahan”, “O’Sheehan”, “Shehane”, and “Shehan” respectively.

The Shehan surname is most commonly found in County Limerick, Ireland. Some variants of the surname can also be found in County Cork and County Kerry.

The Shehan surname can also be found in areas of Scotland, England, America, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Australia.

The variant spelling of the surname “O’Síthigh” is the most genetically common in Ireland.

The Shean surname is derived from an Old Celtic or Pictish word “seoan” which means “pasture” or “meadow”.

The Shehane surname is associated with the ancient Schanne family in Ireland, who were likely to have descended from the Rothari dynasty of Lombards in Italy.

The Sheehan surname is derived from the Gaelic Irish surname ‘O’Seachnasaigh’ which can be translated to ‘descendant of Síthne’. This originated from the personal name Síthne, an early form of the Gaelic word ‘saoidheagh’, which means ‘kind’ or ‘brave’.

Overall, the various spellings, variants, and surnames of Shehan are rooted in Irish and Gaelic family names, with connection to ancient Pictish words and the Schwane family of Ireland.

Famous people with the name Shehan

• Dan Shehan: Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres.
• Dave Shehan: Former NFL running back and fullback for the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Baltimore Colts and Los Angeles Rams.
• Adam Shehan: Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers.
• Pat Shehan: Former NFL wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers.
• Jeff Shehan: Former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets.
• Tom Shehan: Former NFL quarterback for the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos.
• Chris Shehan: Actor, comedian, and activist, known for the Netflix series "Dear White People."
• Ryan Shehan: Professional snowboarder featured in Transworld Snowboarding magazine.
• Elizabeth Shehan: Actress, writer, and producer, known for "Marilyn" and "Akeem Obafemi."
• Mary Shehan: Reality TV personality, known for her appearance on MTV's "The Real World: Austin."

Other surnames

Shehand