Skelly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Irish emigration to North America began modestly in the late 18th century. At this time, Irish families made the journey to British North America and the United States by choice and after careful consideration: they were primarily in search of a suitably large stretch of land to call their own. This pattern would change most dramatically during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For example, the years 1825-1845 saw approximately 450,000 heading to British North America and 400,000 to the United States, but in 1847, at the height of the famine, it is estimated that more than 104,000 Irish immigrants went to British North America and more than 119,000 to the United States. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many early immigrants bearing the name Skelly:

Skelly Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• William Skelly, who arrived in South Carolina in 1813 2
• Samuel Skelly, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1852 2
• Pat Skelly, aged 17, who landed in New York, NY in 1855 2
• Peter Skelly, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1886 2
• John Skelly, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1886 2

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Skelly Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Terence Skelly, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland

Skelly Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Patrick Skelly, (Skelley, Shelly), (b. 1786), aged 34, Irish porter who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 14 years for possession of forged notes, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
• Henry Skelly, aged 25, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Carnatic"

• Dr. Joseph Morrison Skelly, American Associate Professor of History at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx, NY
• Chas Skelly (b. 1985), American mixed martial artist
• Shawn Skelly (b. 1987), American professional ice hockey player
• Michael Peter Skelly (b. 1961), American businessman in Houston and former Democratic candidate for Texas’s 7th congressional district
• Thomas "Tom" Skelly (b. 1879), American football coach, the fourth head football coach at Marquette University
• Hal Skelly (1891-1934), American Broadway and film actor
• James Skelly (1911-1988), American judge for the United States Court of Appeals
• William Grove Skelly (1878-1957), American entrepreneur, founder of Skelly Oil Company in 1919 which was later absorbed by Getty Oil Company in 1974, eponym of the Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium, at the University of Tulsa
• Joseph A. Skelly, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1972 4
• John S. Skelly, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1932 4
• ... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist
• Family Crests: Timeline
• Family Crests: Elements
• Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate
• Spelling variations
• Family seat
• Leinster
• Ireland
• Great Potato Famine
• New South Wales
• Irish families
• First Fleets
• Australia