Bahan 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 Bahan:

Bahan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Peter Bahan, who arrived in Boston Massachusetts in 1849
• Cath. Nicolas Bahan both arrived in New York state in 1854
• Nicolas Bahan, aged 19, who arrived in New York in 1854 2
• Patrick Bahan, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1860

• Walter W. Bahan, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 9th District, 1893
• James Bahan, American politician, Representative from New York 11th District, 1892