Surname Sheil - Meaning and Origin
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Sheil: What does the surname Sheil mean?
The surname Sheil is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O'Siadhail". The prefix 'O' indicates 'grandson of' or 'descendant of', while "Siadhail" is a personal name which comes from the word "siadh" meaning 'peace'. Therefore, the surname Sheil can be understood as meaning 'descendant of Siadhail' or 'descendant of the peaceful one'. The name is popular in the counties of Mayo and Roscommon in the western part of Ireland. Like many other Irish surnames, the spelling has been altered over time and can also appear as O'Sheel, Sheales, Sheals, or Sheils. It's important to note that meanings attributed to surnames are often based on historical usage and may not hold personal relevance for individuals bearing these surnames today.
Order DNA origin analysisSheil: Where does the name Sheil come from?
The Sheil surname is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also present in other countries such as Ireland, South Africa, India, and Germany.
In the United Kingdom, Sheil is considered to be a fairly common name. It is particularly common in Northern Ireland, though there are many Sheil families located elsewhere in the British Isles. For example, Sheil is a common surname among the Irish diaspora around the world, and there are many Sheils found in the records of Irish emigrants to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Canada also has a sizable presence for the Sheil surname. According to census records in 2016, Sheil was the 146th most common last name in the country and was most strongly associated with Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
In the United States, the Sheil surname is primarily found among the Irish-American population with the highest concentration located in the northeastern states, particularly New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
Australia is also home to many Sheil families. The main concentrations are in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. Lastly, Sheil is relatively common in New Zealand, especially in the North Island.
Variations of the surname Sheil
The surname Sheil is an Irish variant of the surname O'Shea. O'Shea is a patronymic surname which means "descendant of Shea". This ancient Gaelic surname has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origins.
Variant spellings include O'Sheil, O'Sheaill, O'Sheile, O'Sheale, O'Sheiles, O'Shail, O'Shaill, O'Shaile, O'Shales, O'Sheill, O'Sheils, O'Sheals, O'Shales, Sheil, Sheile, Sheaill, Sheiles, Shaill, Shaile, Shales, Sheill, Sheils, Sheals, and Shales.
Surnames of similar origins include Ó Sé, Aiséirí, Shea, Shiels, Shields, Shear, and Shearer.
In some cases, the variant spelling of Sheil may also have evolved from the English personal names Sheila or Shelia.
Variant spellings of Sheil are most commonly seen in Ireland but are also commonly found in England, Scotland, and Wales. It is also seen in countries with large Irish diaspora populations, such as the United States and Canada.
Famous people with the name Sheil
- Gregory Sheil: American actor best known for the turn he took as Detective Matt Wilcox in the 2019 film Fractured.
- Jordan Sheil: Australian musician who tours with the popular folk-rock band The Sea Kings.
- Kiara Sheil: British makeup artist and the founder of the Cruelty Free Mi Cruelty Cosmetic line.
- Tom Sheil: Welsh Olympic skeet shooter who competed in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
- William E. Sheil: American politician and a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013.
- Avi Sheil: Los Angeles-based writer who has worked on various film and television projects.
- Dan Sheil: Commercial airline pilot whose byline has been seen in aviation magazines featuring his travels around the world.
- David Sheil: Irish footballer who has appeared for the national team and represented clubs in the Irish League.
- Bailey Sheil: Canadian actress who is best known for playing the lead role in the independent film Mary 1965.
- Connie Sheil: Award-winning American civil rights leader who spent almost 50 years of her life advocating for marginalized communities.