Origin of the Shea Surname
The Shea surname is of European origin (European). In the 2010 U.S. Census it ranked #1,048 with 33,329 Americans (11.3 per 100K people).
What the name meant to the first families who bore it — and how Shea traveled across regions and centuries — is written out in the full Heritage Report.
Quick Facts
| Surname | Shea |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Full etymology in the Heritage Report |
| Origin | European |
| Language | European |
| US Rank (2010) | #1,048 |
| US Count (2010) | 33,329 |
| Per 100K People | 11.3 |
| First Letter | S |
Ethnic Distribution of Shea
Among 33,329 Americans named Shea, the largest self-reported group is White (93.84%).
The full multi-group chart (every percentage, print-ready) is inside the Heritage Report — not repeated here.
Popularity of Shea Over Time
Between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, the national rank of Shea moved down. Exact counts for both years — print-ready — are in the Heritage Report.
Where did the Shea family really come from?
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The Complete Story of the Shea Family
What you’ve read above is just the overview. Your full Shea Heritage Report goes far deeper — and it’s yours to keep, print & share with your family.
- ✓ The true origin & meaning of Shea
- ✓ The Shea coat of arms & heraldry
- ✓ Migration journey across the world
- ✓ Where Shea families live today
- ✓ Notable Shea bearers in history
- ✓ Name variations & spellings worldwide
- ✓ A step-by-step guide to start tracing your own family tree
🎁 A heritage keepsake to pass down — perfect as a gift.
Get one Shea fact most families never hear by email — a teaser, not the full etymology (that’s in the report).
Similar Surnames to Shea
These surnames share similar popularity, spelling, or cultural background with Shea.
Other European Surnames
Explore more surnames with European roots. There are 162,254 surnames in our database — here are some that share the same European origin as Shea.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shea
Top Surnames Starting with S
The most common American surnames that begin with the letter S, ranked by population.
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