The Clan/Sept History

The family name MacShanly has an intrinsic connection to the Gaelic culture of
Ireland. The original Gaelic form of the name MacShanly is Mac Seanlaoich, which
is derived from the words "sean," meaning "old," and "laoch," meaning "hero."

Spelling variations of this family name include: Shanley, Shanly, MacShanley,
McShanley, MacShanly and many more.
First found in Leitrim, where they were anciently seated in that county, some
say, well before the 10th century. This east Connacht sept gathered their name
from the Gaelic 'MacSeanlaoich' meaning in the English 'Old hero.".
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were:
Thomas Shanley, who settled in Charles Town, SC in 1767; Bernardo Shanly, who
settled in Mississippi in 1789; James D. Shanley, who settled in Philadelphia in
1819.

Motto Translated: For country and religion