Gaelic sept

Sexton

Ó Seasnáin

Also: Sexten, Shasnan

“descendant of Seasnán”

🏔 Limerick · Luimneach 🏔 Clare · An Clár Source: Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923) ↗

The sept's historic heartland, highlighted. People moved — a name can be found far from home.

The story

A Dalcassian family of Thomond, Woulfe writes, found at the end of the 16th century across Munster and in Longford, Cavan and Monaghan. A respectable branch settled in the city of Limerick, and the English form 'Sexten' appears there as early as 1533.

Their world In 1533 — The Kildare Ascendancy. The English crown is too poor to govern Ireland directly, so it governs through the greatest of the Geraldines instead.

See them on the atlas ↗

What the name is made of

Ó Seasnáin
Ó — descendant of (originally grandson of)
Seasnáin — the ancestor, trade or place the name is built on

Find this form in the Irish-to-English index → · What Ó and Mac actually mean

Is Sexton an Irish name?

Sexton is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here.

The five answers, and why it is rarely yes or no →

Where the Sexton country is

County Limerick County Clare Limerick Ennis Newcastle West Abbeyfeale Kilmallock Adare Kilrush Shannon 14 castles in Limerick 13 castles in Clare

Neighbours — other names from the same counties

Carmody · Clare, Limerick Creagh · Clare, Limerick Enright · Limerick, Clare Griffin · Clare, Limerick Hanrahan · Clare, Limerick Hartigan · Clare, Limerick Hassett · Clare, Limerick Hickey · Clare, Limerick Hurley · Limerick, Clare Madigan · Clare, Limerick McInerney · Clare, Limerick Moloney · Clare, Limerick Mulqueen · Clare, Limerick O'Brien · Clare, Limerick

Quick answers

Is Sexton an Irish name?

Sexton is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here. In Irish the name is Ó Seasnáin.

What does the surname Sexton mean?

Sexton (Irish: Ó Seasnáin) means “descendant of Seasnán”. Origin: Gaelic sept.

Where in Ireland is the surname Sexton from?

The historic homeland of the Sexton name is Limerick, Clare. People moved, so the name can be found far beyond it.

What is the Irish for Sexton?

Ó Seasnáin. Related spellings: Sexten, Shasnan.

Looking for the Sexton family crest? Read this first — arms belong to people, not surnames, and the honest version is more interesting. Tracing Sexton ancestors? The step-by-step guide.

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