MCSHANE members around the world

MCSHANE Family History

This popular Irish clan surname is an anglicized spelling of the Gaelic "Mac Seain". Translating as "son of John", the name was introduced into Ireland in the 7th century a.d. "John" is the most popular of all the original Hebrew and later Christian given names. Every country in Europe has its examples, and it is estimated that there are over seven hundred spelling forms ranging from the original "Yochanan" though the medieval "Johann", to the patronymic and diminutives such as Johnson or Aujouanet, and the Czech Janvosky. It is not surprising that in such a religious nation as Ireland that the name should be prominent, but surprisingly the clan "MacShane" in at least three quite distinct and apparently, unrelated, septs...