Sexton — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Seasnáin
Meaning: 'descendant of Seasnán'
Traditional stronghold: Clare, Limerick
Pronunciation: SEX-tun; Irish Ó Seasnáin: oh SHASS-nawn
History of the Sexton name
Despite its English occupational appearance, Sexton in Ireland is nearly always a Gaelic name: Ó Seasnáin, from an early personal name sometimes explained as 'bodyguard' or 'defender'. The sept belonged to Thomond, and by the sixteenth century Sextons were among the leading merchant families of Limerick city - Edmund Sexton was mayor in 1535, an early Gaelic-origin holder of that office - while the name also spread through Clare and into Cork. The anglicisation to Sexton was by sound and false association rather than translation. It remains a Munster name above all, and in the modern era became famous worldwide through rugby.
Variants: Sexten · Shasnan
Famous bearers of the name
- Johnny Sexton — Ireland out-half, World Rugby player of the year in 2018 and Grand Slam-winning captain.
- Thomas Sexton — Irish Parliamentary Party orator, MP and Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1888-89.
- Dave Sexton — English football manager of Irish stock who led Chelsea to the 1970 FA Cup.
Related names from the same part of Ireland: O'Brien · Ryan · Kennedy · Quinn · Collins · Fitzgerald · McDonnell · McMahon