Show ContentsNilane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Nilane was derived from the Gaelic "O Niallain," which means "descendant of Niall."

Early Origins of the Nilane family

The surname Nilane was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster.

Early History of the Nilane family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nilane research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1570 is included under the topic Early Nilane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nilane Spelling Variations

Those scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Nilane family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including O'Neilan, O'Neylan, Neilan, Neylan, O'Nelan and others.

Early Notables of the Nilane family

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

Migration of the Nilane family

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Nilane family in North America: Humphry Nelan, who arrived in America between the years 1735 and 1743; James Nelan, who arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843; John, Johanna and Elizabeth Neilan, who all died en route to Quebec in 1847.



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