Gillion 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 Gillion:

Gillion Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Pierre Gillion, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 2

Gillion Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• William C Gillion, who arrived in DeWitt County, Illinois in 1860 2

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gillion Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• James Gillion, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834
• Mary Gillion, aged 13, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834

Gillion Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. James Gillion, (b. 1853), aged 21, Scottish navvy from Lanarkshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 3