Surname Shay - Meaning and Origin
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read moreShay: What does the surname Shay mean?
The surname Shay, also found as Shea or O'Shea in various cultures, is of Irish origin. In its original Gaelic form, it is written as "O'Séaghdha," where "O" signifies a male descendant and "Séaghdha" means hawk-like or stately. Therefore, the last name Shay roughly translates to "descendant of the majestic or hawk-like one." The family with this surname originated mainly in the counties of Kerry, Cork, and Limerick in Ireland. They are believed to descend from Séaghdha, a chief of the Corca Laoidhe, who was a significant figure in the 10th century. Today, those carrying the Shay (or Shea or O'Shea) surname are scattered around the world due to the widespread Irish diaspora, yet they form part of a shared, rich, Irish historical heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisShay: Where does the name Shay come from?
The last name Shay is most commonly found within the United States, particularly in the Northern States of America such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, New York, and Ohio, among others. It is also found throughout other countries including Canada, Ireland, and England, and is one of the most widespread Irish surnames.
The origins of the Shay surname are not fully known, but it is thought to have come from the Irish language or from Gaelic. In Irish, the word 'seaghdha' means fast or swift, and the surname is thought to have been an occupational name, which was given to swift runners who used to deliver messages during the Middle Ages.
Shay is a very popular name today, especially among the Irish population in the US. In 2013, around 11,000 people with the surname Shay lived in the United States, making it one of the most common Irish surnames. It is also a popular name among celebrities and authors, such as singer Nicki Minaj (born Onika Tanya Maraj-Shay) and author Jodi Picoult (author of My Sister’s Keeper, who wrote under Jodi Picoult-Shay).
Shay is a name that is steeped in Irish history and culture and continues to be popular in many parts of the world today.
Variations of the surname Shay
Shay is an Irish surname that dates back to medieval times. In Ireland, it was primarily found in County Cork, where it was taken from the Gaelic name O’Sé. It is also found in Scotland, particularly in the region of Fife. It is thought to be derived from the Norman name de Sei, meaning "from Sai".
Variant spellings of the name Shay may include O'Shay, O'Shea, Sheehy, Shee and Shae. Surnames with the same origin may include Shea, Sheahan, Sheehan, Sheely and Shiell.
In the United States, the Shay surname is also commonly spelled Shaye and is sometimes used as a variant spelling of the similar sounding Shay.
The surname is found throughout Ireland, the United States, Canada, and England. It is a relatively common surname in the English-speaking world and can be found in various national records dating back to the 11th century, when it first appeared in its various spellings.
In Ireland, variations on the Shay name can be found in the form of Shea, Sheahan, Sheehan. Sheely and Shiell. In the United States, the surname is typically spelled Shaye, although the originally Irish variations like Shea, Sheahan and Sheehan are still seen.
In Scotland, variations of the surname Shay are found in names such as Shae, Shaeffer, Schaefer, Schaeffer, Shaffer and Shaver. Lastly, the surname is also found in England, where a variation of the name may be spelled Shackell, Shacklady, Shackle, Shackleton, Shackleford and Shackles.
Famous people with the name Shay
- Gigi Hadid: An American Model
- Daniel Shay: American revolutionary war soldier
- Russell Shay: Record producer
- Dave Shay: American football player
- Tim Shay: American ice hockey player
- surpassed Shay: American country musician
- Noam Shany: Israeli judge and legal expert
- Brittany Shay: Singer, Songwriter, and Actress
- Micaiah Shay: American actress
- Kacey Shay: Musician and Singer
- Charlie Shay: Rapper and songwriter
- Daniel Shay-Sutton: Actor and presenter
- Lyssa Shay: American Instagram speaker
- Abbey Shay: American actress
- Nora Shay: Australian model
- Peyton Shay: Elite American lacrosse player
- Ashlyn Shay: American singer
- Alex Shay: Australian singer
- Cillian Shay: Irish Actor
- Koko Shay: Musician and Artist