Shanley Family Name and Heraldry

People named Shanley share an Irish surname with a long history. The usual explanation, from Elsdon Smith, is “the son of Seanlaoch (old hero)”. Like many surnames, it grew out of a personal name.

About 4,511 people in the United States were recorded as Shanley in 2010, placing it 7,384 on the national list. That puts it inside the top 10,000 US surnames.

If a Shanley family bore arms, our report explains whose they were and what the blazon shows. Want more than a summary? See the Shanley family name pack.