Shea Coat of Arms & Family Crest
Where the Shea name began, what it means, and where it was first recorded.
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Origin of the Shea name
Shea comes from Ó Séaghdha, "descendant of Séaghdha", a personal name meaning "hawk-like" or "fine, stately". The sept held lands in the Iveragh peninsula of County Kerry, where O'Shea is still very common. A branch moved to Tipperary and Kilkenny in the Middle Ages and became prominent in Kilkenny town under the form Shee. Shea and O'Shea are the same name.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Shea name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Shea name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Shea pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Shea coat of arms for you.
Shea name FAQ
What does the Shea name mean?
Descendant of Séaghdha ("hawk-like"). Common variants include O'Shea, Shee, Shay.
Where does the Shea surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Shea coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Shea crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Shea coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).