Behan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish families began to immigrate to British North America and the United States in the 18th century, but the greatest influx of Irish immigrants came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. The earlier settlers came to North America after a great deal of consideration and by paying relatively high fees for their passage. These settlers were primarily drawn by the promise of land. Those later settlers that came during the 1840's were trying to escape the conditions of poverty, starvation, disease, and death that had stricken Ireland. Due to the enormity of their numbers and the late date of their arrival, these immigrants primarily became hired laborers instead of homesteading settlers like their predecessors. An exhaustive search of immigration and passenger lists has revealed many Irish immigrants North America bearing the name Behan:

Behan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Maria Christiana Behan, who settled in Philadelphia in 1732

Behan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• James Behan, who landed in New York NY in 1815 3
• James Behan, aged 26, who arrived in America in 1822 3
• Mrs. Behan, aged 24, who landed in America in 1822 3
• James Behan, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County,Pennsylvania in 1823 3
• James Behan, who arrived in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1823
• ... (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:

Behan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Mr. Abraham Behan, aged 50 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Margrette" departing 2nd May 1847 from New Ross, Ireland; the ship arrived on 8th July 1847 but he died on board 4
• Mr. Abraham Behan, aged 5 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Margrette" departing 2nd May 1847 from New Ross, Ireland; the ship arrived on 8th July 1847 but he died on board 4
• Miss. Eliza Behan, aged who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lotus" departing 15th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 24th June 1847 but she died on board 4
• Mr. Michael Behan, aged 25 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Emily" departing 12th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 6th July 1847 but he died on board 4

Behan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Denis Behan, (b. 1814), aged 24, Irish labourer who was convicted in County Laois (Queen's County), Ireland for life for manslaughter, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 29th December 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
• Ms. Ann Behan, (b. 1789), aged 60, Irish country servant who was convicted in Clare, Ireland for 10 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Australasia" on 26th June 1849, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
• Miss. Margaret Behan, (Bohan), (b. 1829), aged 20, Irish house maid who was convicted in Clare, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Australasia" on 26th June 1849, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1893 6
• Miss Margaret Behan, (b. 1826), aged 23, Irish laundress who was convicted in Kildare, Ireland for 10 years for arson, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 17th December 1849, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7

Behan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. William Behan, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Minerva" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 8
• William Behan, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dilharree" in 1875

• William James Behan (1840-1928), American Republican politician, Mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, 1882-84; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Louisiana, 1896, 1900, 1908; Louisiana Republican State Chair, 1900-12 9
• Thomas W. Behan, American Republican politician, Mayor of Binghamton, New York, 1936-37; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1948 9
• Margaret Behan, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1920; Member of New York Democratic State Committee, 1930 9
• Louis Joseph Behan (b. 1876), American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1936 9
• Joseph C. Behan Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1932, 1936 9
• John L. Behan, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1979-95 9
• Edward F. Behan, American politician, Mayor of Jackson, Michigan, 1946-47 9
• John Harris Behan, American sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral
• John Behan (b. 1938), Irish sculptor
• Brendan Behan (1923-1964), Irish author, playwright, member of the Irish Republican Army
• ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)