Guilfoyle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Many destitute Irish families in the 18th and 19th centuries decided to leave their homeland, which had in many ways been scarred by English colonial rule. One of the most frequent destinations for these families was North America where it was possible for an Irish family to own their own parcel of land. Many of the early settlers did find land awaiting them in British North America, or even later in America, but for the majority of immigrants that arrived as a result of the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s the ownership of land was often a long way off. These Irish people were initially put to work on such industrial projects as the building of bridges, canals, and railroads, or they worked at manufacturing positions within factories. Whenever they arrived, the Irish made enormous contributions to the infant nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the earliest immigrants to bearer the name of Guilfoyle were found through extensive research of immigration and passenger lists:

Guilfoyle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Daniel, John, Michael and William Guilfoyle, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1868

Guilfoyle Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Ellen Guilfoyle, aged 21, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" 1
• Judith Guilfoyle, aged 19, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Fitzjames"
• Bridget Guilfoyle, aged 22, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Fitzjames"
• John Guilfoyle, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "General Hewett"
• Ann Guilfoyle, aged 25, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "General Hewett"

• Richard Thomas Guilfoyle (1892-1957), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, the 3rd Roman Catholic Bishop of Altoona (1936-1957)
• Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle (b. 1969), American cable news personality, currently one of the co-hosts of the programs The Five and Outnumbered on the Fox News Channel
• George Henry Guilfoyle (1913-1991), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Camden from 1968 to 1989
• Monsignor Merlin Joseph Guilfoyle (1908-1981), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Stockton from 1969 to 1979
• Paul Guilfoyle (1902-1961), American actor, known for his roles in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Mighty Joe Young (1949) and Apache (1954)
• Paul Guilfoyle (b. 1949), American Screen Actors Guild Award winning stage, film, and television actor, best known for his role as Captain Jim Brass in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
• William A. Guilfoyle, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives, 1917-20; Member of South Dakota State Senate 42nd District, 1921-22 2
• Matt Guilfoyle, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kansas, 1940 2
• Martha Guilfoyle, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1920, 1924, 1932 2
• Mark A. Guilfoyle, American politician, Mayor of Abilene, Kansas, 1999-2000 2
• ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)