Shanley Explained

Shanley is a surname of Irish origin, anglicised from any of the following Gaelic phrases:

• Mac Seanlaoich meaning 'son of Seanlaoch'
• Ní Seanlaioch possibly meaning 'descendant of a daughter Seanlaoch'
• Nic Seanlaioch meaning 'daughter of Seanlaoch'
• Ó Seanlaoich possibly meaning 'descendant of a son of Seanlaoch'

Notable people and characters with the surname include:

• American Catholic priests:
  • Brian J. Shanley (born 1958), American priest of the Order of Preachers, president of Providence College
  • Paul Shanley (1931–2020), defrocked priest and convicted child-rapist
• Others:
  • Bernard M. Shanley (1903–1992), associate of U.S. President Eisenhower
  • Eleanor Shanley, Irish vocalist
  • Frank Shanley (1889–1917), English footballer
  • Gib Shanley (1931–2008), sports anchor/reporter
  • John Patrick Shanley (born 1950), American playwright
  • Mai Shanley (born c. 1963), American model
  • Mary Shanley (1896–1989), New York City police detective
  • Mary Lyndon Shanley (born 1944), feminist legal scholar

Fictional characters

• Cal Shanley on US television series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, played by Timothy Busfield

See also

• The medieval Sept and Town of Mac Shanley are mentioned in the Irish Annals.