Sheridan

Origin & Etymology

Sheridan derives from the Irish surname Ó Sirideáin, meaning descendant of Sirideán. The personal name Sirideán is thought to derive from the old Irish word sír meaning long, persistent, or seeking combined with a diminutive suffix, giving the approximate meaning of wild searcher or long-lived seeker. As a given name, Sheridan has historically been used for both boys and girls, though it has skewed more feminine in recent decades.

Popularity Story

Sheridan gained profile as a given name through General Philip Henry Sheridan, the famed Union cavalry commander, whose surname was subsequently used as a first name by admirers. The playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan also lent literary prestige to the name. For girls, Sheridan began gaining traction in the 1990s-2000s as parents explored Irish surnames as first names.

Cultural Significance

The name is deeply rooted in Irish culture through the prominent Sheridan family and their descendants in America. Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816) was one of the greatest Irish playwrights, author of The School for Scandal. General Philip Sheridan became an iconic American military figure whose name spread the surname as a first name across the US.

Fun Facts

• Richard Brinsley Sheridan wrote The School for Scandal, one of the most performed plays in theatrical history
• General Philip Sheridan's famous quote was the origin of the phrase the only good Indian is a dead Indian — parents should be aware of his complicated historical legacy

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