Shannon 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 Shannon:

Shannon Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Lakall Shannon, who arrived in Virginia in 1695 5
• William Shannon, who landed in Virginia in 1698 5

Shannon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Charles Shannon, who arrived in America in 1742
• James Shannon, who arrived in Boston in 1764
• Luke Shannon, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1765 5

Shannon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Bridget Shannon, aged 40, who landed in Massachusetts in 1813 5
• Robert Shannon, who arrived in New York in 1813 5
• Bridget Shannon, who was on record in Massachusetts in 1813
• David Shannon, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 5
• Hugh Shannon, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 5
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shannon Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Robert Ross Shannon, who landed in New York in 1912 5

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shannon Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Lieut. Daniel Shannon U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John City], New Brunswick c. 1784 6
• Mr. David Shannon U.E. who settled in Ancaster Township, Wentworth County [Ancaster], Ontario c. 1784 he enlisted in 1777 on Secret Service 6

Shannon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• B Shannon, who arrived in Canada in 1812
• Rosy Shannon, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Forth" in 1833
• Charles Shannon, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Perseus" in 1834
• James Shannon, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Perseus" in 1834
• Mr. Andrew Shannon, aged 44 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Elizabeth" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 7
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shannon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. John Shannon, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
• Mr. John Shannon, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Champion" on 24th May 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
• Mr. William Shannon, (b. 1806), aged 25, English shoe maker who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
• Miss Jane Shannon, (b. 1812), aged 20, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 14th July 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died on board in 1832 11
• Mr. Henry Shannon, (Richard), (b. 1816), aged 16, English tailor's boy who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "England"on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1854 12
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Shannon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Helen Shannon, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
• Michael Shannon, aged 30, a gardener, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cuba" in 1840
• Florence Shannon, aged 32, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adelaide" in 1858 13
• Sarah Shannon, aged 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adelaide" in 1858 13
• Mrs. Agnes Shannon, (b. 1832), aged 32, Scottish settler from Lanarkshire travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 22nd October 1864 14
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Bob Shannon (1948-2023), born Don Bombard, an American radio disc jockey best known for his work on WCBS-FM in New York City
• Thomas Michael "Mike" Shannon (1939-2023), American Major League Baseball third baseman and right fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1962 to 1970, and then worked as a Cardinals radio broadcaster from 1972 to 2021
• Preston Shannon (1947-2018), American electric blues and soul blues guitarist from Olive Branch, Mississippi
• Thomas Alfred "Tom" Shannon Jr. (b. 1958), American diplomat, acting United States Secretary of State until the confirmation of U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee, Rex Tillerson
• Jeff Shannon (1961-2013), American film critic
• Michael Corbett Shannon (b. 1974), American stage, film, and television actor nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2008
• Bill Shannon (1941-2010), American author and baseball historian
• William Vincent Shannon (1927-1988), former editor of the New York Times and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland
• Terry Craig Shannon (1952-2005), American information technology consultant, journalist and author
• Richard Shannon (b. 1954), American writer, performer and speaker
• ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• My Byers-Bonar-Shannon and Allied Families by Marion Stark Craig.
• Shannon Family and Connections by William G. Shannon.