Kennelly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the late 18th century, Irish families began emigrating to North America in the search of a plot of land to call their own. This pattern of emigration grew steadily until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s cause thousands of Irish to flee the death and disease that accompanied the disaster. Those that made it alive to the shores of the United States and British North America (later to become Canada) were, however, instrumental in the development of those two powerful nations. Many of these Irish immigrants proudly bore the name of Kennelly:

Kennelly Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• John Kennelly, who arrived in Virginia 1774

Kennelly Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Patrick and Mary Kennelly, who arrived in Boston Massachusetts in 1849
• John Kennelly, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1870 3
• Patrick Kennelly, who landed in Mississippi in 1892 3

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kennelly Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• John Kennelly, who arrived in Quebec in 1825 and later moved to Lindsay, Ontario
• Miss. Noreen Kennelly, aged 7 months who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Scotland" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 4
• Mr. William Kennelly, aged 3 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Yorkshire Lass" departing from the port of Killala, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 4

Kennelly Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Biddy Kennelly, aged 20, a dairy maid, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "David Malcolm" 5
• Fanny Kennelly, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Agincourt"
• Daniel Kennelly, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Frenchman"

Kennelly Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• James Kennelly, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ernestina" in 1865

• Ryan Shawn Kennelly (b. 1974), American seven-time gold medalist powerlifter
• Matthew F. Kennelly (b. 1956), American jurist, Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (1999-)
• Martin H. Kennelly (1887-1961), American politician, 47th Mayor of Chicago (1947-1955)
• Keala Kennelly (b. 1978), American professional surfer, two-time winner of Billabong Pro, inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame & Actions Sports Hall of Fame
• Barbara B. Kennelly (b. 1936), American politician, Vice Chairperson of the House Democratic Conference (1995-1999), 67th Secretary of the State of Connecticut (1979-1982)
• Arthur Edwin Kennelly (1861-1939), Irish-born, American electrical engineer, awarded the AIEE Edison Medal (1933), IRE Medal of Honor (1932), Howard N. Potts Medal (1918) and the Edward Longstreth Medal (1917)
• Ardyth Kennelly (1912-2005), American novelist
• Brendan Kennelly (1936-2021), Irish poet and novelist, Professor of Modern Literature at Trinity College, Dublin until 2005, Professor Emeritus of Trinity College
• Tim "Horse" Kennelly (1954-2005), Irish Gaelic football player
• Tadhg Kennelly (b. 1981), Irish Gaelic football player
• ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)