Gahan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Gahan name:

Gahan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• John Gahan who landed in Pennsylvania in 1773

Gahan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• William Gahan, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1818 1
• James Gahan, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1842
• John Gahan, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1856
• John P Gahan, who arrived in Arkansas in 1856 1
• Patrick Gahan, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1867
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gahan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Hugh Gahan, who arrived in Canada in 1820
• John Gahan, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
• Mr. John Gahan who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Free Trader" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 2
• Miss. Judith Gahan, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Margrette" departing 2nd May 1847 from New Ross, Ireland; the ship arrived on 8th July 1847 but she died on board 3

Gahan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Elizabeth Gahan, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life for murder, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
• Mr. William Gahan, (b. 1806), aged 23, Irish ploughman who was convicted in Tipperary, Ireland for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd March 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1830 5

• Gordon Ward Gahan (1945-1984), American photographer, best known for his work with National Geographic
• Thomas J. Gahan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1888, 1904 6
• Theodore F. Gahan, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Lycoming County, 1883-84 6
• William Gahan (1732-1804), Irish priest and author
• Charles Joseph Gahan (1862-1939), Irish Entomologist
• Matthew Gahan (b. 1975), Australian baseball player from Lismore, New South Wales
• Graeme Gahan (b. 1942), former Australian rules footballer
• George Tomas Gahan JP (1912-1980), Australian politician and Victorian amateur boxer, Mayor of Prahan, Victoria, 1965-1966, 1970-1971
• David Gahan (b. 1962), English baritone pop lead-singer
• Gahan Allen Wilson (1930-2019), American author, cartoonist and illustrator known for his cartoons depicting horror-fantasy situations