Finnegan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Finnegan family relocated to North American shores quite early:

Finnegan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Ann Finnegan, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1811 2
• Mary Finnegan, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
• William Finnegan, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
• Anne Finnegan, aged 21, who landed in New York in 1854 2
• Patt Finnegan, aged 20, who landed in New York in 1854 2
• ... (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:

Finnegan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Mr. Patrick Finnegan, aged 19 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Champion" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in Septemer 1847 3
• Miss. Ann Finnegan, aged 5 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lotus" departing 15th April 1847 from Dublin, England; the ship arrived on 24th June 1847 but she died on board 4
• Mr. James Finnegan, aged 50 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sobraon" departing 8th May 1847 from Sligo, England; the ship arrived on 29th June 1847 but he died on board 4
• Mr. James Finnegan, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lotus" departing 15th April 1847 from Sligo, England; the ship arrived on 24th June 1847 but he died on board 4
• Mr. Patrick Finnegan, aged 60 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Princess Royal" departing 5th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 16th June 1847 but he died on board 4
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Finnegan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Judith Finnegan, (b. 1793), aged 33, Irish laundress who was convicted in County Kerry, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as having 1 child 5
• Stephen Finnegan, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Constance" 6
• Michael John Finnegan, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Constance" 6
• Alice Finnegan, aged 16, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Constance" 6
• John Finnegan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Constance" in 1849 6
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Finnegan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Miss Sarah Finnegan, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "True Briton" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 5th February 1853 7
• Edward Finnegan, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Pegasus" in 1865
• Patrick Finnegan, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Parsee" in 1873

• Patrick Finnegan (1949-2018), United States Army Brigadier General, 25th President of Longwood University (2010-2012)
• David Ignatius Finnegan (1941-2015), American attorney, talk show host, and politician, Chairman of the Boston School Committee (1978-1979)
• William B. "Bill" Finnegan (1890-1970), American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer
• Michael C. Finnegan (b. 1955), American managing director of investment banking for JPMorgan Chase
• Fletcher Christian Finnegan (b. 1973), American stand-up comedian, writer and actor
• Cortland Temujin Finnegan (b. 1984), American NFL football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins
• Larry Finnegan (1938-1973), born John Lawrence Finneran, an American pop singer, known for his 1962 hit song "Dear One" (Old Town)
• John J. Finnegan (b. 1938), former American politician, Massachusetts Auditor (1981-1987)
• John P. "J.P." Finnegan (1926-2012), American actor, known for his recurring role in the crime fiction series Columbo and as the villanous character Warren T. Rat in the 1986 Don Bluth film An American Tail
• George V. Finnegan (1882-1913), American gold and sliver Olympic medalist for boxing at the 1904 Summer Games 8
• ... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)