Gold (Or) Generosity and elevation of the mind Green (Vert) Hope, joy, and loyalty in love Fleur-de-lis Purity; light; floral badge of France; represents sixth son as mark of difference. In Ireland this 'flower of light' can have a Christian significance.Lion, heraldic Bravery, strength, ferocity, and valour Trefoil or Shamrock (three-leaved grass) Perpetuity The O'Sheridan coat of arms came into existence centuries ago.
sheridan surname
The Irish surname Sheridan originated in Granard, Co. Longford, where the family were 'Erenagh ' of Granard that is hereditary lay lords of the Church. This exhalted position gave the family all the rights and favors granted to Church leaders at the time. The name was first recorded in Granard in the 8th century. From Granard the Sheridans spread throughout Ireland and indeed the world.
Meaning of the Name:
O' Shiridean literally translates as descendants of Sheridan the meaning of which is uncertain.
variations of the Sheridan name
Sheridan, O'Siridean Ref; Sheridan, ó Sirideáin A Gaelic surname meaning descendant of Sirideán. A sept of Longford who were erenaghs of Granard, who afterwards moved to Cavan. A sept of the Síol Muireadhaigh in Connacht. In 1890 Sheridan was numerous in Cavan and Sligo, it was also to be found in Dublin and Mayo. The estimated number of bearers was 6,496 (including variants). In the United States it is the 1,572 most numerous surname with an estimated 22,000 bearers.
The chief surnames to be found in Co. Cavan include; O’Reilly, Brady, Smith, Sheridan, MacGovern, Donohoe, MacKiernan, Lynch, Maguire, Farrelly, Dolan, Clarke, Fitzpatrick, Gaffney, Galligan McManus, MacHugh, MacLoughlin and O’Connell.
The Sheridan family were originally of Co. Longford but they later moved to Cavan where they became devoted followers of the O’Reillys. The surname Sheridan is distributed throughout Ireland but is still to be found in greater numbers in Cavan than elsewhere.
history and development
In 1890 there were approximately 6,496 bearers of this surname in Ireland. The Sheridans are mainly famous as a literary family. The prefix O has been entirely dropped since the 17th century.
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