The O'Shea surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 10,531 people carried this name — #3,395 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 28,000 people counted. That is up 5% from 10,066 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the O'Shea surname

Anglicisation of the Irish surname Ó Séaghdha.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «O'Shea» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As a surname in the United Kingdom

Harrison classes it as a Celtic name: ‘Descendant of Seaghdha, i.e. Stately, Majestic’.

From the Irish O'Seaghdha.

From Henry Harrison, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary, vol. II (London: The Morland Press, 1918), p. 53 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 46 births for the O’Shea name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Munster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 2,000 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Cork, Kerry, and Limerick.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Munster 36
Leinster 5
Connacht 3
Ulster 2

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In print

O'Shea in American newspapers,
1890.

Newspaper page from Pittsburg Dispatch carrying the name O'Shea
Pittsburg Dispatch 1890-11-16
Newspaper page from Evening Journal carrying the name O'Shea
Evening Journal 1890-11-17
Newspaper page from Pittsburg Dispatch carrying the name O'Shea
Pittsburg Dispatch 1890-11-18

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

O'Shea in Australian newspapers,
1840s–2000s.

79,423 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss O'Shea. The most, 18,328, date from the 1930s. Queensland has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 9.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 26,730
Victoria 24,778
New South Wales 17,031
Tasmania 4,457
South Australia 3,022
Western Australia 1,808
Northern Territory 1,219
ACT (Canberra) 250

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss O'Shea.

Who carried it

People named O'Shea,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Milo O'Shea
    Milo O'Shea 1926–2013 · film actor
  • Michael O'Shea
    Michael O'Shea 1906–1973 · film actor

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0.

In the public record

People named O'Shea,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,802 records

2,802 records of the O'Shea name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 1,077
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 572
  • Other U.S. records 1,153
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Jeremiah J. O'Shea

    Born 1900 in New York. Enlisted 1942 at Los Angeles, California; hospital attendant. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1959, buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary O'Shea

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Teutonic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 25; servant. From Cork, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record William O'Shea

    Born 1949; from Newark, New Jersey. U.S. Marine Corps, assaultman; killed in action 1969 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 2,802 records for O'Shea in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,496 records

1,496 records of the O'Shea name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 623
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 362
  • Other Australian records 511
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Margaret O'Shea

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Mary Anne, sailing from Dublin in 1840. Native of Kerry. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1844. Married 1844 in Hobart, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Ellen Maria O'Shea

    Died 1881 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 29. Will registered in Tasmania in 1881.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John O'Shea

    Arrived in Victoria in 1855 aboard the James Baines, aged 27; Irish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,496 records for O'Shea in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada56 records

56 records of the O'Shea name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 26
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 9
  • Other Canadian records 21
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Joseph O'Shea

    Buried in 1980 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 86.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Patrick O'Shea

    Died 1876 in Pictou, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Joseph Patrick O'Shea

    Buried in 1969 at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Showing 3 of 56 records for O'Shea in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand21 records

21 records of the O'Shea name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 15
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 2
  • Other New Zealand records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jess O'Shea

    Buried in 1977 at Lyttelton Catholic Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury, aged 61.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Maurice O'Shea

    Died 1907, aged 60; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ellen Margaret O'Shea

    Buried in 1908 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 21 records for O'Shea in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom18 records

18 records of the O'Shea name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 16
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  • Stirling Council burial records 1
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Dennis O'Shea

    Will proved in 1940; of Llanelly.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record T. O'Shea

    Rifle Brigade. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. O'Shea

    Royal Munster Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 18 records for O'Shea in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands6 records

6 records of the O'Shea name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Charles O'Shea

    In the population register of Co Cork (Gb); student, born 1909 in Co Cork (Gb).

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Maria Francisca O'Shea

    In the population register of Mandlin, England; born 1866 in Mandlin, England.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Kate O'Shea

    In the population register of Venray; born 1884 in Inistioge, Ireland.

    Open Archives, Gemeente Venray, gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 6 records for O'Shea in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France4 records

4 records of the O'Shea name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Bridget O'Shea

    Born 1909 in the United Kingdom; died 1993 in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray (Seine-Maritime).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Brian Edward O'Shea

    Born 1975 in Ireland; died 1995 in Roubaix (Nord).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for O'Shea in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Ireland3 records

3 records of the O'Shea name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Stephen O'Shea

    Died 1992, aged 18; buried at Labane, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Katie O Shea

    Died 2001; buried at Killursa, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for O'Shea in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Belgium1 record

1 record of the O'Shea name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Joseph O'Shea

    Died 1914 in Aalst; born 1839 in Cork, Ireland; priest.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Aalst (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to O'Shea.

When the index is not enough

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