Cale History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish families began to immigrate to British North America and the United States in the 18th century, but the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. The earlier settlers came to North America after a great deal of consideration and by paying relatively high fees for their passage. These settlers were primarily drawn by the promise of land. Those later settlers that came during the 1840's were trying to escape the conditions of poverty, starvation, disease, and death that had stricken Ireland. Due to the enormity of their numbers and the late date of their arrival, these immigrants primarily became hired laborers instead of homesteading settlers like their predecessors. An exhaustive search of immigration and passenger lists has revealed many Irish immigrants North America bearing the name Cale:

Cale Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Susan Cale, who arrived in Maryland in 1672 4
• William Cale, who landed in Maryland in 1672 4

Cale Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• George Cale, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 4

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cale Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• John Cale, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Cale Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Ann Cale, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Diana" on 4th December 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5

• Eden Myfanwy Cale (b. 1985), American actress and filmmaker
• Thomas Cale (1848-1941), American politician, delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the District of Alaska
• Paula Korologos Cale (b. 1970), American actress, best known for her role as Joanie Hansen on the television series Providence (1999)
• John Weldon "J.J." Cale (1938-2013), American Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter and musician, best known for his songs "After Midnight" and "Cocaine" made famous by Eric Clapton
• Pandeli Cale (1879-1923), one of the signatories of Albanian Declaration of Independence
• Bruce Cale (b. 1939), Australian jazz double-bassist and composer
• William Raymond "Ray" Cale (1922-2006), Welsh dual code rugby international player
• Franklin Cale (b. 1983), South African football midfielder
• John Davies Cale OBE (b. 1942), Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground
• Joseph Cale Gundy (b. 1972), American football quarterback