SKEHAN Family History

This most interesting and unusual surname is of Old Gaelic origin, and is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic "MacSceachain", composed of the Gaelic prefix "Mac", son of, and a personal name from "sceach", briar. This name belongs to the Oriel counties of Monaghan and north Louth, where it has often been changed to "Thornton". Skehan is also well known in Tipperary, and is found here with the Gaelic prefix "O", male descendant of (O'Seachain). Skehan is one of those names with which the Gaelic prefix "Mac" or "O" is seldom if ever retained in the Anglicized form.