O'Shea Y-DNA Surname Project- Background

Background

Welcome to the O'Shea yDNA Surname Project! It is generally accepted that the O'Shea surname started in County Kerry, Ireland about a thousand years ago. However, details of the complex history of the surname have not been fully established. The O'Shea Surname Project has established that there are several separate groups with the O'Shea Surname.

In the 11th century, the areas associated with O'Sheas in Kerry were the Iveragh Peninsula and the Dingle Peninsula.

The Shea/Shee families first occur in Co. Tipperary in the 14th century and spread from there to Kilkenny where they became influential in the running of the City of Kilkenny.

There is an extended family of O'Sheas from the Macroom-Millstreet area of Co. Cork which comprise a third separate group of O'Sheas.

The O'Shea yDNA Project was set up to help individuals find their O'Shea connections. The O'Shea yDNA Project is also exploring the history of the surname, through yDNA STR markers and more recently, through yDNA SNP testing.

We welcome donations no matter how small, to our project fund to help further the project goals.