McGreevey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Ireland, as an English-controlled colony in the 19th century, suffered the loss of hundreds of thousands of its native people. The system of land ownership often did not sufficiently provide for the tenants who farmed the land. This was most clearly evidenced in the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Previous years of great demand for grain products and livestock had run the land down. Many landowners foreseeing an upcoming crisis often removed families from the land or forced them to rely on pitifully small plots where only a subsistence living could be made. When the famines of 1845, 46, and 48 hit, many had nothing. Disease and starvation became widespread and families boarded ships for elsewhere any way they could. Those who went to America were instrumental in developing the industrial power known today: many Irish were employed in hard labor positions in factories and in building the bridges, canals, roads, and railways necessary for a strong industrial nation. Research of early immigration and passenger lists has shown that many bearers of the name McGreevey:

McGreevey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Mr. John McGreevey, aged 12 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lord Ashburton" departing 13th September 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 1st November 1847 but he died on board 2

• James Edward "Jim" McGreevey (b. 1957), American Democratic politician, 52nd Governor of New Jersey (2002-2004)
• John P. McGreevey, American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for New Jersey, 2000; Presidential Elector for New Jersey, 2000 3
• James Edward McGreevey (b. 1957), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly, 1990-92; Governor of New Jersey, 2002-04 3
• Dina Matos McGreevey (b. 1966), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 2004 3