Sean


Sean is a male given name of Irish origin. Its correct Irish spelling is Seán or Séan, while an older form is Seaghán or Seaġán. It is the Irish spelling of the Biblical name John. The Norman French Jehan is another version. Seán is the source for English versions such as Shaun, Shawn and Shon. Séan reflects the Ulster pronunciation and is anglicized Shane, Shaine or Shayne.
For notable people named Sean, refer to List of people named Sean.

Origin

The name originated in the Irish language. It is an adaption of the Anglo-Norman name Johan/John. In 1066, the Norman duke, William the Conqueror conquered England, where the Norman French name Jahan/Johan came to be pronounced Jean, and spelled John. The Norman from the Welsh Marches, with the Norman King of England's mandate invaded parts of Leinster and Munster in the 1170s. The Irish nobility in these areas were replaced by Norman nobles, some of whom bore the Norman French name Johan or the anglicised name John. The Irish adapted the name to their own pronunciation and spelling, producing the name Seán. Sean is commonly pronounced "Shawn", but in the northern parts of Ireland, it is pronounced "Shan", "Shen" or "Shayn", thus leading to the variant Shane.
The name was once the common equivalent of John in Gaelic-speaking areas of Scotland, but has been supplanted by a vulgarization of its address form: Iain or Ian. When addressing someone named Seán in Irish, it becomes a Sheain, and in Scotland was generally adapted into Scots and Highland English as Eathain, Eoin, Iain, and Ian. Even in Highland areas where Gaelic is still spoken, these anglicisations are now more common than Seán or Seathan.

In other languages