Sheridan - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Sirideáin
Meaning: possibly “searcher”
Traditional stronghold: Cavan
Pronunciation: SHERR-ih-dan; Irish Ó Sirideáin: oh SHIRR-ih-dawn
History of the Sheridan name
The Sheridans, Ó Sirideáin, began as an ecclesiastical family, erenaghs of Granard in County Longford, and later settled in Cavan, where they served the O'Reillys of Breifne and became fully identified with that county. The family produced one of the most remarkable literary dynasties in these islands: Thomas Sheridan the scholar and friend of Swift, his actor-manager son Thomas, and his grandson Richard Brinsley Sheridan, playwright of The Rivals and The School for Scandal and a dazzling parliamentary orator. Cavan emigrant stock also gave America the Civil War general Philip Sheridan, and the name remains widespread in Cavan, Longford and Dublin.
Variants: Sherridan · Sheriden · O'Sheridan
Famous bearers of the name
- Richard Brinsley Sheridan - Dublin-born playwright of The School for Scandal and Westminster orator.
- Philip Sheridan - Union general of the American Civil War, son of Cavan emigrants.
- Jim Sheridan - Six-time Oscar-nominated director of My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father.
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Brady · O'Reilly · McGowan · Smith · Clarke · McCabe · Dolan · McGovern