Shanahan Explained

Shanahan is a surname of Irish origin.

According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the O'Shanahans were one of the chiefly families of the Dal gCais or Dalcassians who were a tribe of the Erainn who were the second wave of Celts to settle in Ireland between about 500 and 100 BC.^[1]

Notable people with the surname include:

• Bill Shanahan (born 1938), American former football coach
• Brenda Shanahan (businesswoman), Irish businesswoman
• Brenda Shanahan (politician) (born 1958), Canadian politician
• Brendan Shanahan (born 1969), Canadian ice hockey executive and former player
• Brendan Shanahan (author) (born 1979), Australian author
• Carol Shanahan (born 1957), English businesswoman
• Charif Shanahan, American poet and translator
• Christopher Shanahan (born 1960), Australian barrister
• Dan Shanahan (born 1977), Irish former hurler
• Danny Shanahan (1956–2021), American cartoonist
• David Shanahan (disambiguation), various people
• Dennis Shanahan, Australian journalist and editor
• Doug Shanahan (born 1979), American lacrosse coach and player
• Eileen Shanahan (1901–1979), Irish poet
• Eileen Shanahan (journalist) (1924–2001), American journalist
• Elizabeth Shanahan, American political scientist
• Elwill M. Shanahan (1912–1983), American politician
• Fergus Shanahan (born 1955), British journalist
• Foss Shanahan (1910–1964), New Zealand diplomat and public servant
• Frank E. Shanahan Jr. (1923–2007), American politician
• Greg Shanahan (born 1947), American baseball player
• Holly Shanahan (born 1981), New Zealand actress
• Jack Shanahan (born 1999), Irish drift driver
• James Shanahan (1920–1997), United States Army Brigadier General
• James Shanahan, birth name of Jamey Jasta (born 1977), American musician
• Jamie Shanahan (born 1967), Australian rules footballer
• Jamie Shanahan (hurler) (born 1994), Irish hurler
• Jennie Shanahan (1897–1936), member of the Irish Citizen Army
• Jeremiah F. Shanahan (1834–1886), American Roman Catholic prelate
• Jesse Shanahan (born 1991), American disability activist and astrophysicist
• Jim Shanahan (1901–1985), Australian rules footballer
• Joe Shanahan, American businessman and music industry executive
• John Shanahan (disambiguation), various people
• Joseph (Ignatius) Shanahan (1871–1943), Irish priest, missionary and bishop in Nigeria
• Katie Shanahan (born 2004), British swimmer
• Kid Shanahan (Joseph A. Shanahan, active 1873–1883), river pirate and member of the Patsy Conroy Gang
• Kyle Shanahan (born 1979), American football coach
• Louise Shanahan (born 1997), Irish athlete
• Mark Shanahan, Irish conductor
• Martin Shanahan (born 1973), Irish businessman and public servant
• Martina Shanahan (1965–2021), Irish member of the Winchester Three
• Matt Shanahan (born 1976), Australian basketball coach and former player
• Matt Shanahan (politician) (born 1964), Irish independent politician
• Maurice Shanahan (born 1990), Irish hurler, brother of Dan Shanahan
• Megan Shanahan (born 1985), Australian rugby union player
• Melanie Shanahan (1964–2003), Australian folk singer and songwriter
• Mike Shanahan (disambiguation), various people
• Murray Shanahan, professor of cognitive robotics at Imperial College London
• Neil Shanahan (1979–1999), Irish racing driver
• Nicole Shanahan (born 1985), American attorney and reported vice presidential candidate
• Patrick Shanahan (disambiguation), various people
• Paul Shanahan (1948–2011), Australian rules footballer
• Paul Shanahan (hurler), Irish hurler
• Peter Shanahan (born 1946), Australian rules footballer
• Phiala E. Shanahan, Australian theoretical physicist
• Philip Shanahan (1874–1931), Irish Sinn Féin politician
• Phil Shanahan (1928–2012), Irish hurler
• Rebecca Shanahan, Australian artist and photographer
• Rob Shanahan (born 1966), American photographer and rock drummer
• Sean Shanahan (1951–2022), Canadian ice hockey player
• Steve Shanahan (born 1970), Canadian politician
• Terry Shanahan (born 1951), English former footballer
• Thomas Michael Shanahan (1934–2011), American judge
• Timothy Shanahan (disambiguation), various people
• Tom Shanahan (1925–2014), American broadcaster
• William Shanahan (1897–1954), Irish athlete

See also

• Pre-Norman invasion Irish Celtic kinship groups, from whom many of the modern Irish surnames came from
• Shanahan Sanitoa (born 1989), American Samoan sprinter
• Stranahan (disambiguation)

Notes and References

1. Book: Cairney, C. Thomas . 1989 . Clans and Families of Ireland and Scotland . Jefferson, North Carolina, United States, and London . . 61-69 . 0899503624.