Quote Originally Posted by Chrissss View Post
Let's try mine: Shinn

I've done some research and have found immigration information on-line for Ellis Island, Halifax, and Montreal. Some Shinn's are reported coming from England in the early 19th century, with a couple arriving directly from Ireland.

I believe the name Shinn is a shortened version of one, or several, variants found in County Cork, Ireland. There are too many longer variants, like Shinnoch, Shinnick, Shinnors, and Shinnagh to be a coincidence.

Chris...
SHINN Hard to say what the etymological origin is. Shinnoch, Shinnick, and Shinnagh are all Anglicisations of Ó Seanaigh (pronounced O SHAN-EE) meaning descended from the ancient or elder. It is possible that Shinn is from Ó Seain. Shinnors is of Norman origin I believe, and therefore unrelated to the first three. Incidentally, Shinners is a modern slang term for those who support Sinn Féin!