Find out how popular the first name Sheamus has been for the last 43 years (from 1981 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Sheamus by gender

Based on the last 43 years of data, Sheamus is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 16 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Sheamus.

The history of the first name Sheamus

The name Sheamus is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Séamus, which is derived from the Hebrew name Jacob. The name Jacob means "supplanter" or "one who follows." The name Séamus first appeared in Ireland in the Middle Ages, around the 12th century, as a Gaelic translation of the name Jacques, which was the French form of the name Jacob.

In the 16th century, the name Séamus became widely popular in Ireland, particularly among Catholic families. During the English colonization of Ireland, many Irish names were Anglicized, and Séamus became Sheamus. This spelling variation was used to make the name more easily pronounced by English speakers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sheamus dates back to the 16th century. In 1588, a man named Sheamus O'Neill was mentioned in historical records as a participant in the Irish Rebellion against English rule.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures with the name Sheamus. In the 17th century, Sheamus Hussey (1670-1746) was a renowned Irish mathematician and astronomer. In the 18th century, Sheamus Butler (1713-1786) was a prominent Irish politician and landowner.

In the 19th century, Sheamus O'Brien (1824-1858) was an Irish revolutionary who led the Young Ireland rebellion against British rule. Sheamus Parnell (1846-1891) was an Irish nationalist and political leader who campaigned for Irish home rule in the late 19th century.

In the 20th century, Sheamus Heaney (1939-2013) was an Irish poet, playwright, and lecturer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995. He is considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century.

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 Sheamus was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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