History of the Sheedy Name

History of the Sheedy Name

NB: This book has now been reprinted..!! see The McNamara Site

Origin of the Sheedy Name

The surname SHEEDY appears to have originated from O'SIODA, the Irish Gaelic word for "silk". In his book, Irish Names and Surnames, Rev Pat Wolfe, priest of Limerick Diocese in 1923, states that the family names of SHEEDY and SILK evolved from OSIODA, Shydie or MacSioda, anglicised to OSHEEDY and eventually to the present - SHEEDY. It was a rare and scattered surname and in Co Galway it was 'translated' to SILK. Half a century before America was discovered, John MacMiccon MacNamara completed the building of Bunratty Castle, which had been started by his father Sioda McNamara.
In this line of MacNamaras there was two more or less similarly named chiefs, SIODA and EICHBHUIDE [Sioda of the Yellow Horse] and, much later in the line, a son of John the conqueror was named SIODA. It is from one of these lines that the line of Sheedys originates, though the authorities differ on this point, but it would appear that the line of descent from the MacNamaras is still true.
The SHEEDYS were descendants or Co-chiefs of the great house of MacNamara, who were Lords of Bunratty in Co Clare and were prominently featured in the works of the ancient chroniclers.
According to a description of County Clare preserved in Dublin, in the Library of Trinity College, the MacNamaras and Sheedys were chiefs over a large district called the Clann Coilein, situated in the western part of that county. It included no fewer than 14 parishes, among them Inishcaltragh, Feakle, Killokennedy and Tullagh. After the Cromwellian Settlement, the Sheedys were scattered, some located in Cork and some in Tipperary .
Members of the Sheedy family are entitled to the crest are also entitled to bear a coat of arms - O'SIODA. The heraldic description [azure a cross or] translate to a golden cross on a blue background.
The MacNamaras are at this stage [1998] aiming to a have a reunion of the Clan in 2002 in Ireland. - Details can be seen in the MacNamara home Page [see links section ].

Names associated with Sheedy :[those known] Osioda Silk McNamara MacNamara

Examples of interchanging of names

James Sheedy -McNamara. transported per Tellicherry 1803 as political exile... Came as James McNamara and records show him at times at James McNamara Sheedy [1 of 6 Sheedy Bros transported to NSW.] 
John Sheedy McNamara came per Isabella 1[3]on the 16th Dec.1823 [may be son of James per Tellicherry] 
Joseph Sheedy McNamara - left a will in Ireland pre 1800 [see wills]
Andrew McNamara alias Sheedy - convict to Tasmania per Medway 
John McNamara Sheedy had a daughter Margaret McNamara Sheedy [m] Whelpton. She came to Victoria [Aust] 
Patrick McNamara Sheedy travelled to Californian from Aust in 1850
  Patrick  McNamara Sheedy listed in the Boston Times Index of wanted friends notices. USA 
Annie Sheedy Silk m in 1884 in Victoria to William Newill 
Mary Anna Sheedy Silk born London, m in 1884 Victoria to William Good.

 Different ways that Sheedy has been spelt or misspelt through interpretation of records.. 

Shudy, Shady, Shaady, Sheedey, Sheedie, Shidie, Shiedie, Shedy, Sheddy, Sheehy, [as opposed to genuine Sheehys - the Irish form of Sheehy is Ositig - OShihie, Oshehy - who were descendants of Siteac [peaceful] - probably the same as Mac Sitig - it was found in places in Munster. ]