Canada History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Suffering from poverty and racial discrimination, thousands of Irish families left the island in the 19th century for North America aboard cramped passenger ships. The early migrants became settlers of small tracts of land, and those that came later were often employed in the new cities or transitional work camps. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Although the immigrants from this period were often maligned when they arrived in the United States, they provided the cheap labor that was necessary for the development of that country as an industrial power. Early immigration and passenger lists have revealed many immigrants bearing the name Canada:

Canada Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Cornelius Canada, who arrived in Maryland in 1652 4
• Cornelius Canada, and James Canada who settled in Maryland in 1652
• Gowen Canada, who landed in Virginia in 1656 4
• Corn Canada, who landed in Virginia in 1664 4

Canada Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Hugh Canada, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 4
• John Canada, who arrived in New Jersey in 1747

Canada Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Francisco Canada, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1803 4
• A Jose F Del Canada, aged 32, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 4
• Juan Canada, who landed in America in 1834 4
• Manuel Fernandes Canada, aged 25, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1839 4

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Canada Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• John Canada, who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1818

• Tom Canada (b. 1980), American CFL football player
• Ronald Ellis “Ron” Canada (b. 1949), American Lone Star Film & Television Award winning actor, known for his roles in Wedding Crashers (2005), National Treasure (2004) and Cinderella Man (2005)
• Larry Canada (b. 1954), American former NFL football player for the Denver Broncos (1978-1981)
• Geoffrey Canada (b. 1952), American social activist and educator, CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone, Harlem, New York
• Cody Jay Canada (b. 1976), American country singer, lead singer of Cross Canadian Ragweed
• William Wesley Canada (1850-1921), American Republican politician, Chair of Randolph County Republican Party, 1890-97; U.S. Consul in Veracruz, 1897-1918 5
• William W. Canada (b. 1851), American politician, U.S. Consul in Veracruz, 1897-1911 5
• Lisa R. Canada, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 2008 5
• A. Joseph Canada, American Republican politician, Member of Virginia State Senate 8th District, 1974-79; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Virginia 2nd District, 1986 5