O'Shaughnessy Coat of Arms, Family Crest and O'Shaughnessy Family History

O'Shaughnessy Family History

The family history of the ancient name O'Shaughnessy was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name O'Shaughnessy include Shaughnesy and O'Shaughnessey. These names are derived from the native Gaelic O'Seachnasaigh sept who were of considerable importance in that part of Galway known as the barony of Kiltartan. They have an illustrious origin, being of the southern Ui Fiachrach, descended from the famous King Daithi, the last Pagan King of Ireland. In the eleventh century they supplanted their kinsmen the O'Cahills and also the O'Clerys as the principal sept of Ui Fiachra Aidhne. From the year 1100 onwards they are recorded as Chiefs and described in the 'Composition Book of Connacht' as rulers of 'O'Shaughnessy's Country'. The O'Shaughnessy family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including O'Shaughnessy descendants.