Shell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Many Germans emigrated across the Atlantic to seek better lives in North America. This great migration began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century. Resettlement was particularly attractive to those from Westphalia as a means of escape from poverty and religious persecution. For many Westphalian farmers, the chance to own one's own land was also a major incentive. The process of the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlements centered around Ontario and the Prairie provinces. Among them:

Shell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• John Shell, who landed in Virginia in 1643 2
• Mary Shell, who landed in Virginia in 1663 2

Shell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Caspar Shell, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1767 2
• Friedrich Shell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1782 2

Shell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Christoph Shell, aged 22, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 2
• Thomas Shell, aged 30, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1833 2
• E Shell, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 2
• A Shell, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
• Mrs. C B Shell, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Patrick Shell, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 2

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mr. John Shell U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York, married with 4 children 3

Shell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Edward Shell, Irish settler who arrived in Churchill in 1812 before arriving in the Red River, Canada in 1814

Shell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. John Shell, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
• Mary Shell, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Fatima" 5

• Mary Katherine Jaynes Shell (1927-2018), American politician and the first woman to have served as mayor of Bakersfield, California (1981–1985)
• R. B. Shell, American Republican politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Virginia, 1920 6
• Malcolm Shell, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1936 6
• Loren A. Shell, American Republican politician, Chair of Bollinger County Republican Party, 1943 6
• Joseph C. Shell, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1964 6
• George Washington Shell (1831-1899), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from South Carolina 4th District, 1891-95 6
• Daniel Shell, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 1908 6
• Donald L. Shell (1924-2015), American computer scientist who designed the eponymous Shell sort sorting algorithm
• Karl Shell (b. 1938), American theoretical economist, specializing in macroeconomics and monetary economics
• Ray Shell, American film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer
• ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)