Map of Ireland showing where the Shane arms are recorded
The Shane arms were recorded in Dublin, c. 1600.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in Ireland when the Shane arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dublin.
Origin & History of the Shane Family in Ireland
The surname Shane is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Seán, which itself is a derivative of the name John. By the year 1600, families bearing this name were well-established in Dublin, a city that served as a vital center for trade and administration during a period of significant social change in Ireland. During this era, the name often appeared in legal and property records as the city expanded its influence beyond the medieval walls. Families with this name were likely involved in the merchant classes or the growing professional sectors that defined Dublin life at the turn of the seventeenth century. Because the name was closely linked to the common Gaelic naming traditions of the time, it reflects a period when families were transitioning between traditional Irish structures and the evolving legal systems of the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eóin
Derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning God is gracious.
This name
ShaneAn Anglicized form of the Irish name Seán, signifying a gift from God.
also spelled
Shaen
Shayne
Shean
Shann
Related arms
Shaenvariant spelling
Shannvariant spelling
Cadoganrecorded with Shane, same area
Millesrecorded with Shane, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
National Archives of Ireland, Records of the Chancery of Ireland, 1600–1650
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
