Donnolly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Donnolly family in North America:

Donnolly Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Simon Donnolly, aged 22, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 2

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Donnolly Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Niel Donnolly, aged 30, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ugoni" from Belfast, Ireland
• Kitty Donnolly, aged 40, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ugoni" from Belfast, Ireland
• James Donnolly, aged 53, a pensioner, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ugoni" from Belfast, Ireland
• Daniel Donnolly, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
• Kitty Donnolly, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Donnolly Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Anne Donnolly, (b. 1785), aged 33, Irish servant who was convicted in Monaghan, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
• Mr. Thomas Donnolly, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
• Mr. James Donnolly who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 4th August 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
• Mrs. Catherine Donnolly, (b. 1803), aged 34, Irish house servant who was convicted in Kilkenny, Ireland for 7 years for vagrancy, transported aboard the "Diamond" on 29th November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
• Miss Mary Donnolly, (b. 1829), aged 22, Irish country servant who was convicted in Ireland for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Blackfriar" on 24th January 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1857 7
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)