Callanan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Callanan to North America:

Callanan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Patrick Callanan, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Adriatic" from Southampton, England 4
• John Callanan, aged 27, originally from Kilkenny, Ireland, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Lapland" from Southampton, England 4
• John Hewitt Callanan, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Orduna" from Liverpool, England 4
• Harold V. Callanan, aged 26, who arrived in New York, N.Y. in 1919 aboard the ship "America" from Genoa, Italy 4
• Thomas Callanan, aged 14, originally from Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Ireland, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Baltic" from Queenstown, Ireland 4

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Callanan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• William Callanan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1839

Callanan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Edward Callanan, (b. 1776), aged 50, Irish farm labourer who was convicted in Tipperary, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boyne" on 28th October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
• Mr. Timothy Callanan, (b. 1807), aged 20, Irish labourer who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 7 years for robbery, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 19th July 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
• Ann Callanan, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on December 14, 1835, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 7
• Mr. Denis Callanan, (b. 1826), aged 17, Irish labourer who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Constant" on 9th May 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8

Callanan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Denis Callanan, aged 23, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1878

• Liam Callanan, American author and professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
• Jeremiah Joseph Callanan (1795-1829), Irish poet who was brought up in the country, where he acquired the knowledge of the Irish language which qualified him for his subsequent vocation as national bard and collector of popular traditions 9
• Séamus Callanan (b. 1988), Irish hurler
• Peter Callanan (1935-2009), Irish Fianna Fáil politician
• Johnny Callanan (1910-1982), Irish Fianna Fáil politician from County Galway
• John Joe Callanan (1894-1970), Irish hurler for the Tipperary and Dublin senior teams
• Joe Callanan (b. 1949), Irish former Irish Fianna Fáil politician, member of Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Galway East (2002–2007)
• Ian Callanan (b. 1971), Irish composer of Catholic liturgical music
• Fionnbar Callanan, Irish sports photographer and journalist
• Colm Callanan (b. 1982), Irish hurler for Kinvara and has been a member of the Galway senior inter-county team since 2007
• ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)