NameCensus.

UK surname

Sheahan

Derived from the Irish surname "Ó Séachnasaigh," meaning "descendant of Séachnasach," a personal name meaning "evasive" or "elusive."

In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Sheahan surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 306, ranked #14,543, up from #24,104 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, London parishes and St Giles-in-the-Fields. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sheahan is 362 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 356.7%.

1881 census count

67

Ranked #24,104

Modern count

306

2016, ranked #14,543

Peak year

1998

362 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sheahan had 67 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,104 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 306 in 2016, ranked #14,543.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 120 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Sheahan surname distribution map

The map shows where the Sheahan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Sheahan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sheahan over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 54 #23,577
1861 historical 86 #22,810
1881 historical 67 #24,104
1891 historical 86 #25,951
1901 historical 93 #23,689
1911 historical 120 #20,447
1997 modern 344 #12,319
1998 modern 362 #12,259
1999 modern 353 #12,522
2000 modern 341 #12,801
2001 modern 336 #12,721
2002 modern 354 #12,490
2003 modern 330 #12,971
2004 modern 330 #12,994
2005 modern 313 #13,433
2006 modern 327 #13,092
2007 modern 325 #13,291
2008 modern 328 #13,319
2009 modern 336 #13,345
2010 modern 352 #13,187
2011 modern 351 #13,059
2012 modern 336 #13,376
2013 modern 336 #13,574
2014 modern 332 #13,807
2015 modern 312 #14,347
2016 modern 306 #14,543

Geography

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Where Sheahans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, London parishes, St Giles-in-the-Fields and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham, Powys, Newport and Wandsworth. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Giles-in-the-Fields London (Central Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 012 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Lewisham 008 Lewisham
3 Powys 017 Powys
4 Newport 020 Newport
5 Wandsworth 025 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sheahan

These lists show first names that appear often with the Sheahan surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sheahan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sheahan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Sheahan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Sheahan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sheahan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sheahan is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sheahan falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sheahan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sheahan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sheahan

The surname Sheahan is of Irish origin and is believed to have originated in County Kerry, Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Ó Siodhachain," which means "descendant of Siodhachain." Siodhachain itself is a diminutive form of the Irish word "siodh," meaning "fairy" or "fairy mount."

The earliest known records of the Sheahan surname date back to the 16th century. One of the earliest documented instances of the name is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where a member of the Sheahan family is mentioned as having participated in a battle in County Kerry in the year 1580.

In the 17th century, the Sheahan family was prominent in the baronies of Iveragh and Dunkerron in County Kerry. During this period, the name was also spelled as "Sheehan," "Sheehy," and "Sheehan-Shee."

One of the most notable figures in the history of the Sheahan surname was John Sheahan, a Catholic priest and Irish patriot who lived in the late 18th century. He played a significant role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and was executed by the British authorities for his involvement in the uprising.

Another prominent figure was Patrick Sheahan (1821-1897), an Irish-American politician and lawyer who served as the 16th Mayor of Detroit, Michigan, from 1879 to 1881.

In the late 19th century, the Sheahan family was also associated with the town of Ballymacelligott in County Kerry, where they were landowners and prominent members of the local community.

Other notable individuals with the Sheahan surname include Michael Sheahan (1841-1918), an Irish-American labor leader and politician who served as the 24th Mayor of Brooklyn, New York, and Denis Sheahan (1857-1934), an Irish-born Australian journalist and author who wrote extensively about Australian history and culture.

Throughout its history, the Sheahan surname has maintained a strong connection to its Irish roots, particularly in County Kerry, where it has been documented for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sheahan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sheahan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 27 Sheahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 27 4.13x
Gloucestershire 9 7.02x
Cumberland 6 10.66x
Yorkshire 6 0.93x
Monmouthshire 5 10.58x
Lancashire 4 0.52x
Surrey 3 0.94x
Kent 2 0.90x
Renfrewshire 2 3.95x
Glamorgan 1 0.88x
Hampshire 1 0.75x
Midlothian 1 1.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Augustine in Gloucestershire leads with 8 Sheahans recorded in 1881 and an index of 386.47x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Augustine 8 386.47x
Cleator 6 256.41x
St Marylebone London 6 17.20x
Kensington London 5 13.76x
Sculcoates 5 48.69x
St Giles In Fields 5 222.22x
Tottenham 5 48.03x
Usk 5 1282.05x
Clapham 3 36.72x
Clerkenwell London 3 19.44x
Hulme 3 18.53x
Eastwood 2 64.10x
Westminster St John 2 25.13x
Woolwich 2 24.27x
Aldershot 1 22.27x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 16.23x
Clifton 1 15.43x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 2.84x
Normanton 1 51.28x
Norwood 1 67.11x
Swansea Town 1 10.72x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sheahan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 9
Margaret 5
Ellen 4
Annie 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Cath. 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
J. 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
M. 1
Margt. 1
Sarah 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sheahan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 4
John 4
William 4
Michael 3
Patrick 2
Andrew 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
J. 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sheahan households.

FAQ

Sheahan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sheahan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Sheahan surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sheahan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 306 in 2016. That gives Sheahan a modern rank of #14,543.

What does the Sheahan surname mean?

Derived from the Irish surname "Ó Séachnasaigh," meaning "descendant of Séachnasach," a personal name meaning "evasive" or "elusive."

What does the Sheahan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sheahan bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.