Surname Sheils - Meaning and Origin
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Sheils: What does the surname Sheils mean?
The surname Sheils is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic term "Síol" which means "seed" or "descendant". It is often used to signify a descendant or follower of a certain clan or family leader. Therefore, descendants of such a leader in ancient Ireland might have adopted the name Sheils to signify their lineage. There are several variations of this surname, including Shields, Sheilds, and even Shiel. Like many Irish surnames, Sheils is patronymic, meaning it was originally derived from the personal name of an ancestor. Thus, a person bearing the surname Sheils could be considered a descendant of an early bearer of this personal name. Due to the complex progression of surnames and the variety of spelling variations, the specific individual or title this name originated from is unknown.
Order DNA origin analysisSheils: Where does the name Sheils come from?
The last name Sheils is of Irish origin. It is thought to derive from the Gaelic name O’Sheel, which means “one of a battle” or “one skilled at battle”. The Sheils family is found mainly in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In Ireland, the name is mainly found in Counties Cavan, Waterford, and Monaghan. In England, they mainly inhabited Lancashire, Warwickshire, and Staffordshire. In the United States, the name is mainly found in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, as well as other states including Wisconsin, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
Today, the name Sheils is still common in the areas where the family originated, particularly in Ireland and England. It is a relatively common surname in these countries, with between 2,000-11,000 individuals bearing the name in Ireland, and between 1,000-10,000 individuals bearing the name in the UK.
The name is also reasonably common in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, there are around 4,400 individuals with the last name Sheils living in the US. This is mainly due to earlier waves of Irish immigrants who brought the name with them to new territories.
Overall, the last name Sheils is quite common in the areas where the family is thought to have originated, particularly Ireland and England, and also in the United States.
Variations of the surname Sheils
The surname Sheils may originate from several different sources. The most common version of this surname is Sheils, which is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Sheils, meaning "son of Sheils." Other variants of this surname include Sheils, Mac Sheils, Shiles, Sheailes, Shailes, Shill, Sheill, Shells, Shealls, Shillis, Sheils, Shilles, McSheils, and Shilles.
This surname is most common in Ireland, where one of the earliest records of the surname dates back to 1642 in Kerry, Ireland. It has also been found in Scotland, where a branch of the surname dates back even further, to 1390.
The most recent records of this surname have been found in the United States, Canada, and Australia, where descendants of immigrants from the British Isles brought the name with them as they moved around the world starting in the late 1800s.
In the US, one of the most prominent family lines of the surname can be traced to the famous boxing champion of the 1920s, Tom Sheils. His career brought great fame to the surname, and many of the Sheils families residing in America today identify as descendants of Tom Sheils.
No matter how it is spelled, the name Sheils has various genealogical, historic, and cultural ties to Ireland, Scotland, and other parts of the British Isles. It is a unique and interesting family name whose numerous variants reflect its varied and ancient origins.
Famous people with the name Sheils
- Siobhan Sheils: Irish actress, active from 2008 to present.
- Michael Sheils: Australian cricket player, who was active from 2012 to 2018.
- Mervyn Sheils: Irish international rugby union player, active from 1963 to 1974.
- Deirdre Sheils: Irish writer and politician, active from 1990 to present.
- John Sheils: English footballer, active from 1993 to 2002.
- Cian Sheils: Irish musician, active from 2002 to present.
- Eoin Sheils: Irish rugby league and union player from 2010 to 2017.
- Thomas Sheils: Austrian alpine skier, active from 1994 to 2005.
- John Sheils: English footballer, active from 1993 to 2002.
- Anthony Sheils: Irish actor, active from 2005 to present.