Find out how popular the first name Shaemus has been for the last 3 years (from 2010 to 2012) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Shaemus by gender

Based on the last 3 years of data, Shaemus is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2012, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Shaemus.

The history of the first name Shaemus

The given name Shaemus originated from the Irish Gaelic name Séamus, which is the Irish version of the name James. This name has its roots in the Hebrew name Ya'akov, which means "supplanter" or "one who follows". The name was brought to Ireland by Christian missionaries during the Middle Ages.

In Ireland, the name Séamus has been in use since the 12th century. It was a popular name among Irish Catholics, as it was the Irish version of the name of one of the Twelve Apostles, James the Great. The name was also associated with St. James the Great, the patron saint of Spain, whose shrine at Santiago de Compostela was a major pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shaemus is in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written in the early 17th century. The annals mention a Shaemus O'Neill, who was a prominent chieftain in Ulster in the late 16th century.

Another notable figure with the name Shaemus was Shaemus Hogan, an Irish writer and poet who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He is best known for his poems in the Irish language, which celebrated Irish culture and criticized English rule in Ireland.

In the 19th century, Shaemus O'Rourke was a prominent Irish nationalist and member of the Young Ireland movement, which sought to establish an independent Irish republic. He was born in 1830 and was involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1848.

Another famous bearer of the name was Shaemus O'Shaughnessy, an Irish-American writer and poet who lived from 1872 to 1923. He was part of the Irish literary renaissance and was known for his poems and essays celebrating Irish culture and identity.

In more recent times, Shaemus Doran was an Irish actor and writer who lived from 1915 to 1988. He appeared in several films and television shows and was also a playwright and novelist.

While the name Shaemus has its origins in Ireland, it has been adopted by people of various backgrounds and cultures around the world. However, it remains closely associated with Irish heritage and culture.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Shaemus was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Shaemus, please contact us.

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