Surname OShea - Meaning and Origin
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Unveiling Unexpected Narratives: Delving into my iGENEA Ancestry Test and the O'Shea Lineage
Venturing deeper into my iGENEA DNA lineage test results, I discovered eye-opening information about my heritage and surname, O'Shea. What I had believed to be purely Irish roots were interspersed with unexpected connections to Norway and Ashkenazi Jews. The meaning of 'O'Shea' and its historical stronghold too held unforeseen revelations, all significantly adding a newly redefined sense of identity.
O. OShea
read moreOShea: What does the surname OShea mean?
The last name O'Shea is of Irish origin and is an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Ó Sé. It is derived from the native Gaelic Sept (clan) that was located in the southwest of Ireland in County Kerry and County Cork.
The Gaelic origin of the O'Shea surname suggests a long and illustrious history for those who possess the name, extending back centuries and tracing their Irish ancestry to a diverse ancestry of Gaels. The name is thought to be derived from the ancient Gaelic Sé, a personal name derived from the word “seagh”, which mean “hawk” or “fierce”.
The O'Shea clan was one of the most powerful clans in County Kerry during the middle ages. In the mid-16th century, the O’Sheas were led by the great Donal O’Shea and were instrumental in ushering in a period of prosperity and unity in the region. They were strong supporters of the Catholic Church and embodied the spirit of Irish resistance.
Today, the name O’Shea is associated with strong leadership, loyalty, and the courage to do what is right even in the face of adversity. Those who bear the name are proud of their heritage and cherish the memories of their forebears. It is a name that still inspires the kind of strength that has been part of the O’Shea name for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisOShea: Where does the name OShea come from?
The last name OShea is typically found throughout Ireland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The surname is most heavily concentrated in Ireland, where statistics show that it is the fourth most common last name in the country. OShea is derived from the Gaelic "O'Séaghdha," which translates to "descendent of Séaghdha"—an ancient and noble Irish family, and one of the leading "tribes" of Munster Province.
In the United States, OShea appears especially in Massachusetts, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Illinois—all states having large numbers of Irish immigrants who settled there. With the recent surge in Irish immigration to the US, OShea can also be found in other states across the US in smaller numbers.
In the UK, a large number of OSheas live in London, especially in East London, although the last name is present throughout the country. The OShea family is thought to have moved to the UK in the 1600s when many other Irish immigrants did so.
Overall, the last name OShea is still very common in its different regions of origin, particularly in Ireland. For those looking to learn more about this ancient Irish lineage or seeking out others who share the surname, researching public records or searching online genealogy websites are two good places to start.
Variations of the surname OShea
The surname O'Shea is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic Irish name Ó Séaghdha. This surname was commonly found in County Kerry and western Cork in Ireland.
Variants of the name include O'Shee, Shea, Shay, and Shae, each of which can be found dating back centuries in Irish records. Spelling variations are typically the result of alterations of the name over the years due to phonetic spelling or clerical errors.
Surnames derived from the same origin include Sheehan, Sheehane, O’Sheehan, Sheahan, O’Sheehy, Sheahy, O’Shaw, Shaw, Swayne, O'Siadhail, and Sehie.
The O'Shea clan was connected to the Eóghanacht Chaisil, an ancient group of families descended from the King of Cashel in the 10th century.
The first recorded instance of the surname O'Shea goes back to the 15th century when Connor O'Shea served as Chief of the Name in 1405. Other records include Donell O'Shea, who served as the first Mayor of Cork in 1690, and Daniel O’Shea, who fought against the United Irishmen in 1798.
The O'Shea family regained its chiefdom in the 19th century in the person of Timothy O'Shea, who died in 1895, and whose daughter, Una O'Brien O'Shea, became the first chiefess of the O'Sheas. The family seat is located at Carrigeen Castle in County Kerry.
Today, the surname O'Shea is widely seen around the world, with many adopted variations. People of Irish origin living in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries can trace their name back to the same root as the O'Shea surname.
Famous people with the name OShea
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