McKnye History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Ireland

Early Origins of the McKnye family

Early History of the McKnye family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McKnye research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1037 is included under the topic Early McKnye History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McKnye Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland in the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best due to competing dialects and languages, and the general illiteracy of the population. Research into the name McKnye revealed many spelling variations, including MacNee, MacNea, MacNay, MacKnee, MacNeigh, MacNia, Nee, Knee and many more.

Early Notables of the McKnye family

More information is included under the topic Early McKnye Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McKnye family

During the middle of the 19th century, Irish families often experienced extreme poverty and racial discrimination in their own homeland under English rule. Record numbers died of disease and starvation, and many others, deciding against such a fate, boarded ships bound for North America. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Unfortunately, many of those Irish that arrived in Canada or the United States still experienced economic and racial discrimination. Although often maligned, these Irish people were essential to the rapid development of these countries because they provided the cheap labor required for the many canals, roads, railways, and other projects required for strong national infrastructures. Eventually the Irish went on to make contributions in the less backbreaking and more intellectual arenas of commerce, education, and the arts. Research early immigration and passenger lists revealed many early immigrants bearing the name McKnye: Alexander McNay settled in San Francisco in 1852; Martin, Lawrence, John and James McNee settled in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870. Members of the family settled in Newfoundland, where William Knee was born in 1821..