Lenard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Lenard family relocated to North American shores quite early:

Lenard Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• John Lenard, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 2

Lenard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Charles Lénard, who settled in Philadelphia in 1812
• Samuel Lenard, aged 28, who arrived in Rhode Island in 1812 2
• Bartholomew Lenard, aged 29, who landed in New York in 1849 2
• Mary Lenard, aged 20, who landed in New York in 1849 2

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lenard Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Bridget Lenard, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Neptune" in 1834

Lenard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Jeremiah Lenard, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bardaster" on 7th September 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
• Henry Lenard, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Condor" in 1851 4
• Michael Lenard, aged 26, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Coromandel" 5
• John Lenard, aged 16, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Coromandel" 5
• Margaret Lenard, aged 18, a dairy maid, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Coromandel" 5

• Voshon Lenard (b. 1973), American basketball player who played 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA)
• Mark Lenard (1924-1996), born Leonard Rosenson, American actor, best known for his role as Sarek, father of Spock, in the science fiction Star Trek franchise
• Henry M. Lenard (1903-1983), American politician, Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1953 to 1972
• Victor L. Lenard, American politician, Candidate for Connecticut State Senate 7th District, 1910; Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Windsor, 1912 6
• Marilyn Lenard, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 1996; Presidential Elector for Florida, 1996 6
• Joseph M. Lenard (b. 1962), American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 24th District, 2000 6
• Philipp Lenard (1862-1947), Hungarian-German physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics, 1905
• Alexander Lenard (1910-1972), Hungarian physician, writer, and translator
• Aldon Lewis Lenard (1921-2007), Italian-born, Canadian athlete, university professor, athletics administrator, coach, and referee
• Troy Lenard Sneed Jr. (1967-2020), American gospel musician from Perry, Florida; he died of COVID-19