Seamus
Encyclopedia
Séamus ˈʃeɪməs, is a male first name of Celtic
origin. It is the Gaelic
equivalent of the name James
. The name James is the English New Testament variant for the Hebrew name Jacob
. It entered the Irish
and Scottish Gaelic languages from the French variation of the late Latin name for Jacob, Iacomus; a dialect variant of Iacobus, from the New Testament Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), and ultimately from Hebrew word יעקב (Yaʻaqov), i.e. Jacob. Its meaning in Hebrew is "one who supplants" or more literally "one who grabs at the heel". When the Hebrew patriarch Jacob was born, he was grasping his twin brother Esau
's heel.
Variant spellings include Séamas, Seumus, Shaymus, Sheamus and Shamus. Diminutives include Séimí, Séimín and Séamaisín. In the United States
, the name "Shamus" is sometimes used as a slang
word for private detective.
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
origin. It is the Gaelic
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
equivalent of the name James
James (name)
The name James is derived from the same Hebrew name as Jacob, meaning "Supplanter" ....
. The name James is the English New Testament variant for the Hebrew name Jacob
Jacob
Jacob "heel" or "leg-puller"), also later known as Israel , as described in the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, the New Testament and the Qur'an was the third patriarch of the Hebrew people with whom God made a covenant, and ancestor of the tribes of Israel, which were named after his descendants.In the...
. It entered the Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
and Scottish Gaelic languages from the French variation of the late Latin name for Jacob, Iacomus; a dialect variant of Iacobus, from the New Testament Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), and ultimately from Hebrew word יעקב (Yaʻaqov), i.e. Jacob. Its meaning in Hebrew is "one who supplants" or more literally "one who grabs at the heel". When the Hebrew patriarch Jacob was born, he was grasping his twin brother Esau
Esau
Esau , in the Hebrew Bible, is the oldest son of Isaac. He is mentioned in the Book of Genesis, and by the minor prophets, Obadiah and Malachi. The New Testament later references him in the Book of Romans and the Book of Hebrews....
's heel.
Variant spellings include Séamas, Seumus, Shaymus, Sheamus and Shamus. Diminutives include Séimí, Séimín and Séamaisín. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the name "Shamus" is sometimes used as a slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
word for private detective.
Real people
- Seamus BlackleySeamus BlackleySeamus Blackley is a former agent with Creative Artists Agency representing video game creators.After entering Tufts University to study jazz piano, Blackley switched to study physics and graduated Summa cum Honore en Tesis. As a sophomore, he published his first paper in the Journal of Magnetic...
, Physicist, talent agent, and co-creator of the original Xbox console - Séamus BrennanSéamus BrennanSéamus Brennan was a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a Teachta Dála for Dublin South. He served as a Minister of State, Minister for Tourism and Transport , Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications , Minister for Education , Minister for Transport , Minister for Social and...
, former Irish Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism - Séamus BurkeSéamus BurkeSéamus Aloysius Burke was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal and Fine Gael politician....
, Irish politician - Séamus CunninghamSéamus CunninghamSéamus Cunningham is an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle in the north of England.-Biography:...
, Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle - Séamus de BrúnSéamus de BrúnSéamus de Brún was an Irish teacher, senator and promoter of the Irish language and culture.A lifelong member of the Fianna Fáil party, he was particularly noted for his work as a trustee and president of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.-Family and early life:De Brún was born in Cornamona, in...
, Irish senator and IrishIrish languageIrish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
-language promoter - Seamus DeverSeamus DeverSeamus Patrick Dever is an American actor.Dever was born in Flint, Michigan, and grew up in Bullhead City, Arizona. He graduated as valedictorian of his high school class, completed his undergraduate studies at Northern Arizona University, and holds MFAs in Acting from the Moscow Art Theatre and...
, American actor - Séamus EganSéamus EganSéamus Egan is an Irish musician.-Early days:Séamus Egan was born in Hatboro, Pennsylvania to Irish émigrés Jack and Ann Egan. At the age of three his parents moved the family back home to County Mayo, Ireland....
, Irish musician - Seamus HeaneySeamus HeaneySeamus Heaney is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer. He lives in Dublin. Heaney has received the Nobel Prize in Literature , the Golden Wreath of Poetry , T. S. Eliot Prize and two Whitbread prizes...
, Nobel-prize winning Irish poet, writer and lecturer - Seamus McCaffery, Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice
- Seamus McGarveySeamus McGarveySeamus McGarvey BSC, born 29 June 1967 in Armagh, Northern Ireland, began his career as a still photographer before attending film school at the University of Westminster in London....
, Irish cinematographer - Seamus O'ReganSeamus O'ReganSeamus O'Regan is a Canadian broadcast journalist and co-host of Canada AM, CTV's national morning show.- Biography :O'Regan was born in St. John's, Newfoundland...
, Canadian broadcast journalist - Seamus O'DonovanSeamus O'DonovanSeamus O'Donovan was a leading volunteer in the Irish Republican Army.A native of County Roscommon, he was an explosives expert and reputedly invented the "Irish Wallflower" and "Irish Cheddar" devices. He subsequently became IRA Director of Chemicals in 1921...
, an explosives expert and leading volunteer in the Irish Republican Army. - Sheamus, an Irish professional wrestler.
- Séamus ColemanSéamus ColemanSéamus Coleman is an Irish footballer who plays for Everton and the Republic of Ireland.- Sligo Rovers :Originally a Gaelic footballer, Coleman was spotted by Sligo Rovers when he lined up for his hometown association football side, St. Catherine’s of Killybegs, in a friendly match against Sligo...
, an Irish footballer. - Seamus Ryan, a.k.a. MC Esoteric, an American hip-hop artist.
- Séamus MacDonnacha A well known Ginger in the Connemara Region.
See also
- Articles beginning with "Seamus"
- Seamus (song)Seamus (song)"Seamus" is the fifth song on Pink Floyd's 1971 album Meddle, and uses a blues chord progression. Years later, the song appeared in the film version of Tom Stoppard's play Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead...
- James (name)James (name)The name James is derived from the same Hebrew name as Jacob, meaning "Supplanter" ....
- Jacob (name)Jacob (name)Jacob is a common male first name and a less well-known surname. Since 1999 and through 2010, Jacob has been the most popular baby name for newborn boys in United States. It is a cognate of James....
- SEAMUS (Society for Electroacoustic Music in the United States)SeamusSéamus , is a male first name of Celtic origin. It is the Gaelic equivalent of the name James. The name James is the English New Testament variant for the Hebrew name Jacob...