McShane (name)
Encyclopedia
McShane is a patronymic
surname
originating in Ireland
. The surname evolved from the given name
Shane
, a derivative of John, of Hebrew origin. Some of the earliest historical records regarding the surname are documented through Hugh McShane O'Neill
of the royal O'Neill dynasty
. Many families translated their name from the Irish "mac Shane" to the English "son of John" upon immigration and in difficult economic times in the northern portion of Ireland.
known as the Clan Shanes living in the dense forest of Glenconkeyne and Killetragh dating back to the mid-16th century; and another in County Armagh
that is related. When Shane an Diomas O'Neill, Prince of Tyrone
and chief of all the O'Neill clans, was killed in 1567, he had more than ten male children from his various wives and girlfriends. As a group they were very young. During Shane's lifetime, he made claim to the patrimony of these children and thus they were raised in the courts of their various maternal grandfathers and aunts upon his death. These houses included the Gaelic noble families of O'Donnell
, Maguire
, MacDonald
, and MacLean.
Sixteen years later in 1583 a confederation of the brothers met at the court of their uncle, the Chief of the MacLean clan in the Scottish isles. They were given an army of more than 2000 Scots to return to Ulster to attempt to retake their father's estate and title. When they invaded the brothers took the English and the O'Neill chiefs by surprise and seized a large sphere of control in eastern Ulster, in alliance with the MacDonald's of Antrim. In an attempt to characterize them, the English began to refer to the group of brothers as "the Mac-Shanes" which in Gaelic was "the sons of Shane O'Neill". For seven years they battled Sir Turlough O'Neill, the recognized O'Neill Mor at the time, and the rising Baron Dungannon and eventually Earl of Tyrone, Hugh Rua O'Neill. The brothers were dealt a blow in 1590 when the Earl of Tyrone
captured and hung three of the men. The earl succeeded in capturing and imprisoning three more brothers over the remainder of the decade. By 1591 there were only two or three of the brothers free from the Earl. Two brothers, Hugh and Ever, were hiding out in the Glenconkeyne forest in eastern Tyrone
. They became field commanders within the O'Neill clan living there during the 9 Years War. That sept had protected them as babies when their father had been killed nearby and had since been referred to as the Clan Shanes. The Clan Shanes were a boundary sept between the Clannaboy and Tyrone O'Neill lords.
In 1593, the Earl of Tyrone had their chief, Phelim mac Cormac Toole O'Neill, killed along the river Bann
and seized the lordship away from the Clannaboy estate. The family turned to Hugh MacShane as their new leader and elected him as their chief. From that date forward, that O'Neill branch has used the "MacShane
" surname as an honorific for their loyalty to Shane O'Neill
and to his battling sons. Hugh MacShane reigned as Chief until 1620 and his sons and grandsons (Brian & Brian Og) were active in the wars and politics of Ulster
, Ireland
, and Spain
for the next two centuries.
In spite of the Plantation of Ulster, and more specifically the newly created (1615) county of LondonDerry, the McShanes felt little encroachment. This stemmed from two aspects that both worked toward their favor. The first was that the Livery Company from London assigned the land the McShanes lived on were the Drapers and the Skinners companies. Both of these companies were primarily concerned with money making and not in colonization. Thus, as long as the native Irish were willing to pay their rents, very few outsiders were moved onto the Livery Company lands, keeping the Glenconkeyne valley in the barony of Loughinshollin virtually Irish. Secondly, the fierce reputation and historical strength of the McShane family combined with the dense forest kept most planters from venturing into the forest. There are two proofs to this phenomenom. Fifty years after the plantation began, there were only 6 Protestant families living in the entire region. Secondly, Gaelic was spoken as the primary language until the mid-18th century and was still being taught in the local school as late as 1838. Virtually no other regions in Ulster maintained that level of native autonomy with regards to religion and language.
When the family was attainted as Irish Jacobites
in the 1690s, the heir, Owen McShane, completely dropped any association with the O'Neill name in an attempt to hold his father's small estate. Though they had little effect in Glenconkeyne, the penal laws (1695–1745) and the influx of Scottish and English settlers into greater Ulster made it increasingly difficult for the Gaelic Irish to hold position and land within Irish society, and thus the name MacShane was eventually shortened to McShane by Owen's son Neil "Clochna" M'Shane, and then again during the 18th and early 19th centuries, Owen's great grandson Patrick translated the surname from the Gaelic "Mac Shane" which is the Ulster dialect spelling of "son of John" to the English "son of John" or Johnson. Johnson, and to a lesser extent Johnston, was commonly used in counties Tyrone, LondonDerry, and Armagh until roughly the 1920s. Over the 20th century, many of the Irish branches returned to the Gaelic spelling. This family is still active and viable in Ulster, America, and Australia. Concentrations of McShane/Johnson families around the world are in: Co. Londonderry & Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland; Glasgow, Scotland; Hobart, Australia; Capetown, South Africa; Ontario, Canada; and Pennsylvania, USA. The family leadership is closely involved in the greater O'Neill clan activities.
A variety of the name is McShine, attested among black people is such Caribbean islands at Saint Vincent
and Trinidad
- who are appearantly descended from the intermarriage of Scottish immigrants with local blacks and/or from slaves who had taken their master's surname with this variation .
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
originating in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The surname evolved from the given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
Shane
Shane (name)
Shane is a masculine given name. It is an Anglicised version of the Irish name Seán, which itself is an Irish derivative of the name John. Shane comes from the way the name Seán is pronounced in the Ulster dialect of the Irish language, as opposed to Shaun or Shawn.Shane is also a popular surname...
, a derivative of John, of Hebrew origin. Some of the earliest historical records regarding the surname are documented through Hugh McShane O'Neill
Hugh McShane O'Neill
Hugh "McSeáin" O'Neill genealogies list Hugh as the son of Con MacShane O'Neill, 3rd son of Shane O'Neill and as the 10th son of Shane O'Neill. In both cases he was a grandson of Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone and Gearoid Mór Fitzgerald, 8th Earl of Kildare and of the primary line of the O'Neill...
of the royal O'Neill dynasty
O'Neill dynasty
The O'Neill dynasty is a group of families that have held prominent positions and titles throughout European history. The O'Neills take their name from Niall Glúndub, an early 10th century High King of Ireland from the Cenél nEógain...
. Many families translated their name from the Irish "mac Shane" to the English "son of John" upon immigration and in difficult economic times in the northern portion of Ireland.
History
The sept of MacShane-Johnson is a closely related branch of the Tyrone O'Neills. Its independent origins begin in the 16th century. There are English reports of a sept of the greater O'Neill dynastyO'Neill dynasty
The O'Neill dynasty is a group of families that have held prominent positions and titles throughout European history. The O'Neills take their name from Niall Glúndub, an early 10th century High King of Ireland from the Cenél nEógain...
known as the Clan Shanes living in the dense forest of Glenconkeyne and Killetragh dating back to the mid-16th century; and another in County Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
that is related. When Shane an Diomas O'Neill, Prince of Tyrone
Tyrone
The name Tyrone can refer to:*County Tyrone, a county in Northern Ireland, roughly corresponding to the ancient kingdom of Tír Eogain*An Earl of Tyrone*A small steam train which runs between Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland-Places:...
and chief of all the O'Neill clans, was killed in 1567, he had more than ten male children from his various wives and girlfriends. As a group they were very young. During Shane's lifetime, he made claim to the patrimony of these children and thus they were raised in the courts of their various maternal grandfathers and aunts upon his death. These houses included the Gaelic noble families of O'Donnell
O'Donnell
O'Donnell , which is derived from the forename Domhnaill were an ancient and powerful Irish family, kings, princes, and lords of Tír Chonaill in early times, and the chief allies and sometimes...
, Maguire
Maguire
-Other uses:*Jerry Maguire, 1996 film starring Tom Cruise*Maguire Seven, Irish family accused in the 1970s for bomb-making; later exonerated*Maguire University, fictitious college invented in 1963 by a group of Chicago high school basketball coaches...
, MacDonald
Macdonald
MacDonald, Macdonald, and McDonald are Anglicised forms of the Scottish Gaelic name MacDhòmhnaill. It is a patronym where Mac means "son" and Dhòmhnaill means "of Dòmhnall". The personal name Dòmhnall is composed of the elements domno "world" and val "might", "rule"...
, and MacLean.
Sixteen years later in 1583 a confederation of the brothers met at the court of their uncle, the Chief of the MacLean clan in the Scottish isles. They were given an army of more than 2000 Scots to return to Ulster to attempt to retake their father's estate and title. When they invaded the brothers took the English and the O'Neill chiefs by surprise and seized a large sphere of control in eastern Ulster, in alliance with the MacDonald's of Antrim. In an attempt to characterize them, the English began to refer to the group of brothers as "the Mac-Shanes" which in Gaelic was "the sons of Shane O'Neill". For seven years they battled Sir Turlough O'Neill, the recognized O'Neill Mor at the time, and the rising Baron Dungannon and eventually Earl of Tyrone, Hugh Rua O'Neill. The brothers were dealt a blow in 1590 when the Earl of Tyrone
Earl of Tyrone
The Earl of Tyrone is a title created three times in the Peerage of Ireland.It was first created as part of the Tudor attempt to establish a uniform social structure in Ireland by converting the Gaelic kings and chiefs into hereditary nobles of the Kingdom of Ireland...
captured and hung three of the men. The earl succeeded in capturing and imprisoning three more brothers over the remainder of the decade. By 1591 there were only two or three of the brothers free from the Earl. Two brothers, Hugh and Ever, were hiding out in the Glenconkeyne forest in eastern Tyrone
Tyrone
The name Tyrone can refer to:*County Tyrone, a county in Northern Ireland, roughly corresponding to the ancient kingdom of Tír Eogain*An Earl of Tyrone*A small steam train which runs between Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland-Places:...
. They became field commanders within the O'Neill clan living there during the 9 Years War. That sept had protected them as babies when their father had been killed nearby and had since been referred to as the Clan Shanes. The Clan Shanes were a boundary sept between the Clannaboy and Tyrone O'Neill lords.
In 1593, the Earl of Tyrone had their chief, Phelim mac Cormac Toole O'Neill, killed along the river Bann
River Bann
The River Bann is the longest river in Northern Ireland, the total length being 80 miles . The river winds its way from the south east corner of Northern Ireland to the north west coast, pausing in the middle to widen into the enormous Lough Neagh...
and seized the lordship away from the Clannaboy estate. The family turned to Hugh MacShane as their new leader and elected him as their chief. From that date forward, that O'Neill branch has used the "MacShane
MacShane
MacShane is a patronymic surname originating in Ireland. The surname evolved from the given name Shane, a derivative of John, of Hebrew origin. Early records spelled the name Mac Seáin or Mac Seagháin. Historically, the MacShanes from Ulster are a branch of the O'Neills, while in County Kerry, the...
" surname as an honorific for their loyalty to Shane O'Neill
Shane O'Neill
Seán Ó Néill, anglicised Shane O'Neill , nicknamed 'Seán an díomais', was an Irish king of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster in the mid 16th century. Shane O'Neill's career was marked by his ambition to be The Ó Néill Mór - Sovereign of the dominant Ó Néill Mór family of Tyrone... and thus head...
and to his battling sons. Hugh MacShane reigned as Chief until 1620 and his sons and grandsons (Brian & Brian Og) were active in the wars and politics of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
for the next two centuries.
In spite of the Plantation of Ulster, and more specifically the newly created (1615) county of LondonDerry, the McShanes felt little encroachment. This stemmed from two aspects that both worked toward their favor. The first was that the Livery Company from London assigned the land the McShanes lived on were the Drapers and the Skinners companies. Both of these companies were primarily concerned with money making and not in colonization. Thus, as long as the native Irish were willing to pay their rents, very few outsiders were moved onto the Livery Company lands, keeping the Glenconkeyne valley in the barony of Loughinshollin virtually Irish. Secondly, the fierce reputation and historical strength of the McShane family combined with the dense forest kept most planters from venturing into the forest. There are two proofs to this phenomenom. Fifty years after the plantation began, there were only 6 Protestant families living in the entire region. Secondly, Gaelic was spoken as the primary language until the mid-18th century and was still being taught in the local school as late as 1838. Virtually no other regions in Ulster maintained that level of native autonomy with regards to religion and language.
When the family was attainted as Irish Jacobites
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
in the 1690s, the heir, Owen McShane, completely dropped any association with the O'Neill name in an attempt to hold his father's small estate. Though they had little effect in Glenconkeyne, the penal laws (1695–1745) and the influx of Scottish and English settlers into greater Ulster made it increasingly difficult for the Gaelic Irish to hold position and land within Irish society, and thus the name MacShane was eventually shortened to McShane by Owen's son Neil "Clochna" M'Shane, and then again during the 18th and early 19th centuries, Owen's great grandson Patrick translated the surname from the Gaelic "Mac Shane" which is the Ulster dialect spelling of "son of John" to the English "son of John" or Johnson. Johnson, and to a lesser extent Johnston, was commonly used in counties Tyrone, LondonDerry, and Armagh until roughly the 1920s. Over the 20th century, many of the Irish branches returned to the Gaelic spelling. This family is still active and viable in Ulster, America, and Australia. Concentrations of McShane/Johnson families around the world are in: Co. Londonderry & Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland; Glasgow, Scotland; Hobart, Australia; Capetown, South Africa; Ontario, Canada; and Pennsylvania, USA. The family leadership is closely involved in the greater O'Neill clan activities.
A variety of the name is McShine, attested among black people is such Caribbean islands at Saint Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
and Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
- who are appearantly descended from the intermarriage of Scottish immigrants with local blacks and/or from slaves who had taken their master's surname with this variation .
List of persons with the surname
- Andrew J. McShaneAndrew J. McShaneAndrew James McShane was mayor of New Orleans from 1920 to 1925.McShane was born in New Orleans, the son of two Irish-American Catholics, Bernard McShane and Rose McShane...
(1865–1936), American, mayor of New Orleans - Charlotte McShaneCharlotte McShaneCharlotte McShane is a professional Scottish born Australian triathlete and the 2008 Xterra U20 World Champion.McShane grew up in Helensburgh, Scotland, and in 2005 moved to a place near Bairnsdale, Victoria...
, a Scottish born Australian triathlete - Connell McShaneConnell McShaneConnell McShane is an anchor and correspondent on the Fox Business Network, which he joined when the network was launched in October 2007. He anchors the 11amET hour of Fox Business and contributes to Imus in the Morning...
, American correspondent on the Fox Business Network - Daniel E. McShane III (born 1970), Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy; former Blue Angel #8
- Harry McShaneHarry McShaneHarry McShane was a Scottish socialist, and a close colleague of John Maclean. Born into a Roman Catholic family, he became a Marxist...
(1891–1988), Scottish socialist and labor reformer - Harry McShane (footballer)Harry McShane (footballer)Harold "Harry" McShane is a Scottish former football player, who played as a direct and speedy winger. He is the father of actor Ian McShane.-Playing career:...
(born 1920), Scottish football player - Ian McShaneIan McShaneIan David McShane is an English actor, director, producer, voice artist, and comedian.Despite appearing in numerous films, McShane is best known for his television roles, particularly the BBC's Lovejoy and HBO's Western drama Deadwood...
(born 1942), English actor - J. Leonard JohnsonJ. Leonard JohnsonJames Leonard Vincent "Len" Johnson was an American scientist."Len" Johnson was an American engineer, designer, and scientist in the mid-twentieth century in the field of metallurgy and nuclear technology...
(McShane) 1905-1966 American scientist, OSS agent - James McShaneJames McShaneJames McShane was a Canadian businessman and politician. He was mayor of Montreal, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, and a member of the Canadian House of Commons.-Background:...
(1833–1918), Canadian businessman and politician; mayor of Montreal - Jim McShaneJim McShaneJim McShane was a player for the Geelong Football Club. McShane was the first player in the VFL/AFL competition to kick ten goals or more in a match when he scored eleven goals against St Kilda in 1899....
, Australian rules footballer - Joe McShaneJoe McShaneJoe McShane was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.McShane started his career at Geelong before moving to Carlton for the 1902 season. He left the Blues following the 1904 Grand Final against Fitzroy.-External links:* at...
, former Australian rules footballer - John A. McShaneJohn A. McShaneJohn Albert McShane was a Nebraska Democratic politician. He was the first Democrat to be elected to the Nebraska congressional delegation....
(1850–1923), American politician - Joseph M. McShane (born 1949), American, President of Fordham University and the University of Scranton
- Luke McShane (footballer)Luke McShane (footballer)Luke McShane is a footballer playing for St Neots Town.-Peterborough United:McShane started his career at Peterborough United and also had loan spells at Deeping Rangers, Stamford, Hornchurch, twice at Kettering Town, twice at Gravesend & Northfleet, Basingstoke Town and Worksop Town. He plays as...
(born 1985), English footballer - Luke McShaneLuke McShaneLuke James McShane is an English chess player. A former World Youth Champion and prodigious talent in chess, he has become one of England's leading players and a member of the Olympiad team. He has also been a trader in London's financial sector.- Early career :McShane won the World Under-10...
(born 1984), English chess player - Michael E. McShane (born 1981), American, Michigan Mixed Martial Arts Master (MMMAM), Related to Huge McShane.
- Michael McShane (born 1991), Northern Irish Athlete
- Mike McShaneMike McShane (ice hockey)Mike McShane is a college men's ice hockey coach. He ranks ninth all-time among NCAA men's ice hockey coaches with 564 wins in 30 years as a head coach...
, ice hockey coach - Mike McShaneMike McShaneMichael "Mike" McShane is an American actor, singer, and improvisational comedian who first became known through his appearances in the early 1990s on the British version of the television show Whose Line Is It Anyway?-Biography:...
(born 1957), American actor and improvisational comedian - Pat McShane (born 1974), Northern Ireland footballer
- Patrick McShanePatrick McShanePatrick George McShane was an Australian cricketer who played in 3 Test matches between 1885 and 1888....
(1858–1903), Australian cricketer - Paul McShane (born 1986), Irish football player
- Brook McShane (born 1980) Father of Anthony McShane, economist
- Sir William Johnson (McShane), 1st Baronet of New York, Major General British Army, 1715–1774
- Terence McShane also known as Tarlach Mac Seagháin, Seanchaí Contae Aontroma, ÉireÉireis the Irish name for the island of Ireland and the sovereign state of the same name.- Etymology :The modern Irish Éire evolved from the Old Irish word Ériu, which was the name of a Gaelic goddess. Ériu is generally believed to have been the matron goddess of Ireland, a goddess of sovereignty, or...
- Robert Treat PaineRobert Treat PaineRobert Treat Paine was a signer of the Declaration of Independence as a representative of Massachusetts.-Early life and ancestors:...
Signer of the Delaration of Independence, USA, 1776 - Adam Robert McShane (born 1965) Hobart Tasmania Australia, father of 2 boys and 1 Princess
See also
- Hugh McShane O'NeillHugh McShane O'NeillHugh "McSeáin" O'Neill genealogies list Hugh as the son of Con MacShane O'Neill, 3rd son of Shane O'Neill and as the 10th son of Shane O'Neill. In both cases he was a grandson of Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone and Gearoid Mór Fitzgerald, 8th Earl of Kildare and of the primary line of the O'Neill...
, early documented McShane clan member - O'Neill DynastyO'Neill dynastyThe O'Neill dynasty is a group of families that have held prominent positions and titles throughout European history. The O'Neills take their name from Niall Glúndub, an early 10th century High King of Ireland from the Cenél nEógain...
- MacShaneMacShaneMacShane is a patronymic surname originating in Ireland. The surname evolved from the given name Shane, a derivative of John, of Hebrew origin. Early records spelled the name Mac Seáin or Mac Seagháin. Historically, the MacShanes from Ulster are a branch of the O'Neills, while in County Kerry, the...
- Shane O'NeillShane O'NeillSeán Ó Néill, anglicised Shane O'Neill , nicknamed 'Seán an díomais', was an Irish king of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster in the mid 16th century. Shane O'Neill's career was marked by his ambition to be The Ó Néill Mór - Sovereign of the dominant Ó Néill Mór family of Tyrone... and thus head...
Sources
- Church Lands of County Armagh, by Michael Glancy
- The Ancient and Royal Family of O'Neill, by Desmond O'Neill
- Royal Pardons: 1603, 1608, 1615
- Jury list of the Attaintment of the estate of the Earl of Tyrone, 1614
- Land Grant, County Tyrone, Ireland: 1615
- Calendar of the State Papers of Ireland, series for 1560 to 1660
- Hearth Rolls for County Londonderry, Ireland, 1660 to 1668
- Irish Army of King James II
- Stem of a Nation, Irish Pedigrees, by J. O'Hart
- Land Owners, Loughinshollin Barony, County Londonderry, 1740, Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)
- Census of 1790 (PRONI)
- Rents List of 1813/1814, Loughinshollin Barony, Co. Londonderry, (PRONI)
- Tithe Roll of 1826, Ballinascreen Parish, Co. Londonderry, (PRONI)
- Tombstone Recordings of Ballinascreen Parish, Ballinascreen Historical Society
- Moneyneena, One Hundred Years, Ballinascreen Historical Society, June 2002