Conolly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Under the rule of England, land ownership in Ireland changed dramatically, and many native Irish families found themselves renting out land to farm from absentee owners. This was one of the prime reasons that immigration to North America began in the late 18th century: Irish farmers dreamed of owning their own parcel of land to work for themselves. At this point, the immigrants were at least of modest means for the passage across the Atlantic was often quite dear. In the 1840s the Great Potato Famine created an exodus of people of quite different means. These people were most often destitute: they either sold anything they had to gain a passage or they were sponsored by philanthropic societies. Many of these immigrants were sick from disease and starvation: as a result many did not survive the long transatlantic journey. Although those settlers that did survive were often despised and discriminated against by people already established in these nations, they were critical to rapid development of the powerful industrial nations of the United States and the country that would later become known as Canada. An examination of immigration and passenger lists shows many persons bearing the name of Conolly or one of its variants:

Conolly Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Eunice Conolly, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1729-1730 3
• Cormack Conolly, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 3
• Peter Conolly, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 3
• Arthur Conolly, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 3

Conolly Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Patt Conolly, aged 33, who arrived in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 3
• Rose Conolly, aged 31, who arrived in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1804 3
• Nancy Conolly, aged 24, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 3
• Owen Conolly, aged 23, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1805 3
• Polly Conolly, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 3
• ... (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:

Conolly Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Lt. John Conolly U.E. who settled in Kingston, Ontario c. 1783 4
• Mr. Patrick Conolly U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783, passenger number 427 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 4

Conolly Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Elizabeth Mary Conolly, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 14th July 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
• Helen Conolly, Scottish convict from Edinburgh, who was transported aboard the "Amphitrite" on August 21, 1833, settling in New South Wales, Australia 6
• Mr. John Conolly, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 2nd May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
• James Conolly, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Thirteen" in 1840 8
• Ellen Conolly, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Thirteen" in 1840 8
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Conolly Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• J. Conolly, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ulcoats" in 1864
• Miss Rose Ann Conolly, (b. 1840), aged 28, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Light Brigade" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 26th August 1868 9
• Mr. Matthias Conolly, (b. 1848), aged 21, Irish farm labourer, from Galway travelling from London aboard the ship "Siberia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st February 1870 10
• Mathias Conolly, aged 21, a farm labourer, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Siberia" in 1870
• Ellen Conolly, aged 20, a dairymaid, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waitangi" in 1874

• William Conolly (d. 1729), Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, son of a publican, or, as some say, of a blacksmith 11
• Thomas Conolly (1738-1803), Irish politician, only son of William Conolly (d. 1729), first M.P. for Ballyshannon 11
• Islay Conolly MBE (1923-2022), Caymanian teacher and school administrator, Chief Education Officer in 1970, recipient of the Spirit of Excellence Award during National Heroes Day and was first recipient of the Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award in Education
• John Conolly (1794-1860), English physician, born at Market Rasen in Lincolnshire on 27 May 1794; his father was a member of a well-known Irish family, the Conollys of Castletown
• Erskine Conolly (1796-1843), Scottish poet, born at Crail, Fifeshire, on 12 June 1796 11