Where Does the Oshay Surname Come From?

In census returns, Oshay often stands in for O'Shea. Taken at its root, Oshay points to “A grandson of Seaghdha (majestic or learned)”.

Family crest and blazon

A coat of arms belongs to a particular family line rather than to everyone named Oshay, so the heraldry linked to O'Shea is a starting point, not an automatic right.

A variant of O'Shea

Before spelling was fixed, O'Shea was also written Oshay. Local scribes, dialects and emigration all left their mark on how the name was written. You may also find the name written Ó Sé.

Want more than a summary? See the Oshay family name pack.