Grattan 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 Grattan to North America:

Grattan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• William Grattan, who landed in New York, NY in 1817 1
• Edward Grattan, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1862

Grattan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• John Grattan, English convict from Chester, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on October 16, 1826, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 2
• John Grattan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Spartan" in 1849 3

Grattan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Alexander Grattan, aged 33, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843
• Rebecca Grattan, aged 28, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843
• Mary Grattan, aged 11, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843
• Eliza Grattan, aged 8, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843
• John Grattan, aged 7, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843

• Clinton Hartley Grattan (1902-1980), American economic analyst, historian, critic, and professor emeritus, from Wakefield, Massachusetts, one of the leading American authorities on 20th-century Australian history
• William J. Grattan (b. 1876), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Albany County 4th District, 1903-06; Member of New York State Senate 28th District, 1907-10 4
• John Grattan (1800-1871), Irish naturalist and anthropologist from Belfast
• Henry Grattan (1746-1820), Irish statesman and lawyer, baptised at St. John's Church, Fishamble Street, Dublin, on 3 July 1746, son of James Grattan, Recorder of the city of Dublin (1761-1766) 5
• Henry Grattan Jr. (1789-1859), Irish politician, Member of Parliament for Dublin City on behalf of the Whigs from 1826 to 1830 in the British House of Commons
• Thomas Colley Grattan (1792-1864), Irish author of ‘Highways and Byways,’ born in Dublin in 1792, was son of Colley Grattan of Clayton Lodge, co. Kildare, formerly a solicitor in Dublin, who afterwards retired to the country and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits 5
• Michelle Grattan AO FASSA (b. 1936), Australian journalist, the first woman to become editor of an Australian metropolitan daily newspaper, current chief political correspondent with The Conversation, Australia's largest independent news website.
• Jenna Grattan (b. 1987), Canadian former professional wrestler from Brockville, Ontario, better known by her ring name Portia Perez
• Harry Grattan (1867-1951), British stage actor, singer, dancer and writer, best known for his performances in musical comedies around 1900.
• Prof. Kenneth Thomas Victor Grattan O.B.E., FREng, British Royal Academy of Engineering for George Daniels Professor of Scientific Instrumentation and Dean for Graduate School at the City University of London, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Science 6