Slavens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Slavens family came to North America quite early:

Slavens Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Mrs. H.C. Slavens, who arrived in America, in 1911
• Albert Slavens, aged 52, who arrived in America, in 1920
• Anna L. Slavens, aged 47, who arrived in East Orange, New Jersey, in 1924

• Mark Slavens (b. 1954), American politician and jurist, Circuit Court Judge
• William Slavens McNutt (1885-1938), American two-time Academy Award nominated screenwriter who wrote for 28 films between 1922 and 1939