Shanley 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 Shanley:

Shanley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Thomas Shanley, who settled in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1767

Shanley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• James D. Shanley, who settled in Philadelphia in 1819
• Daniel Shanley, who was naturalized in South Carolina in 1832
• Mr. Edward Shanley, aged 22, Irish labourer who arrived in New York in 1846 aboard the ship "Stephen Whitney"
• Catherine Shanley, who settled in Vermont in 1854
• Francis Shanley, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1867 2
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shanley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Anna E. Shanley, aged 16, who settled in America from Longford, in 1904
• Annie Shanley, who immigrated to the United States from Doomord, Ireland, in 1914
• Alfred Shanley, aged 17, who landed in America from Sligo, Ireland, in 1920
• Agnes Shanley, aged 41, who immigrated to the United States, in 1923

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shanley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• James Shanley, whose death at sea was registered at Grosse Isle, Quebec in 1847
• Mr. Joseph Shanley, aged 9 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Virginius" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 3
• Ms. Mary Shanley, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Covenanter" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 3
• Mr. James Shanley who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Virginius" departing 28th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 12th August 1847 but he died on board 4
• Mr. Michael Shanley, aged 17 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Marchioness of Breadalbane" departing 11th June 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 12th August 1847 but he died on board 4

Shanley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Andrew Shanley, (b. 1805), aged 22, Irish farmers man who was convicted in Longford, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 19th July 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he was killed in 1839 5
• Mr. John Shanley, (b. 1815), aged 21, Irish groom who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 27th August 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
• James Shanley, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on August 08, 1849, settling in Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia 7
• Ellen Shanley, aged 23, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"
• Eleanor Shanley, aged 18, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Aliquis"

Shanley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. Walter Shanley, (b. 1841), aged 22, British baker, from Middlesex travelling from London aboard the ship "Metropolis" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th June 1863 8
• Bridget Ann Shanley, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Andrew Jackson" in 1865

• Mai Shanley (b. 1963), American beauty queen and pageant holder, Miss New Mexico USA 1984
• John Shanley (1852-1909), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Fargo, North Dakota (1889 until his death)
• Gib Shanley (1931-2008), American Emmy Award-winning sports anchor/reporter
• Bernard Michael Shanley (1903-1992), White House Counsel (1953-1955) and White House Appointments Secretary (1955-1957)
• John Patrick Shanley (b. 1950), American playwright and screenwriter awarded the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama (along with a Tony award for best play) and won an Academy Award in 1987
• Keelin Shanley (1968-2020), Irish journalist, newsreader and presenter with RTÉ, Ireland's national radio and television station
• Thomas J. Shanley, Irish restaurateur who with his 6 brothers founded the very popular Shanley's Restaurants, in Manhattan, New York in 1890; the last restaurant closed in 1925
• Eleanor Shanley, Irish folk singer from Keshcarrigan in County Leitrim