Keily History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish families began leaving their homeland for North America in the late 18th century. These families were usually modestly well off, but they were looking forward to owning and working on a sizable tract of land of their own. This pattern of emigration continued until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine sparked a major exodus of destitute and desperate Irish people. These people were not leaving for a grant of land in North America because by this time the East Coast had reached its saturation point and free land was scarce. They were merely looking to escape the disease, starvation, and hopelessness that Ireland had fallen into. Although these unfortunate immigrants did not receive a warm welcome by the established populations in the United States and what would become Canada, they were absolutely critical to the rapid development that these two nations enjoyed. They would help populate the western lands and provide the cheap labor required for a rapid industrialization. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many early bearers of the name Keily or one of its variants:

Keily Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Jeremiah Keily, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1818
• James Keily, who settled in New York State in 1853
• Richard C Keily, who arrived in Illinois in 1856-1864 4
• J.M. Keily, aged 46, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1893
• Margaret Keily, aged 18, who landed in America from Steadford, in 1897

Keily Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• John J. Keily, aged 31, who landed in America from County Waterford, Ireland in 1900
• James Keily, aged 26, who landed in America from Antrim, in 1904
• Denis Keily, aged 44, who landed in America from Kinsale, Cork, Ireland, in 1907
• Henry Alexander Keily, aged 44, who settled in America from London, England, in 1907
• Anastatia Keily, aged 25, who landed in America from New Ross, Ireland, in 1907
• ... (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:

Keily Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Mrs. Mary Keily, aged 78 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Herald" departing 20th May 1847 from Dublin, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th June 1847 but she died on board 5

Keily Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

• Elsa Keily, aged 33, who settled in Ontario, Canada, in 1924

Keily Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Catherine Keily, aged 18, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "David Malcolm" 6
• Honora Keily, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Nashwauk" 7

Keily Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Miss Mary Keily, (b. 1849), aged 18, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1867 8
• Miss Ellen Keily, (b. 1852), aged 15, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th November 1867 8
• Nicholas Keily, aged 18, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874

• John Joseph Keily (1854-1928), Irish clergyman, Bishop of Plymouth (1911 to 1928)
• Arthur Patrick Keily (1921-2016), British marathon runner at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and the 1960 Summer Olympics
• William "Bill" Keily (b. 1878), Canadian trapper and photographer, co-eponym of Redfern-Keily Provincial Park, British Columbia
• Mortimer "Dan" Keily (b. 1892), Australian rules footballer