Cooley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

When these Boernician-Scottish settlers arrived in North America they brought little with them and often had restart their lives from scratch. Through time, much of their heritage was lost, and it is only this century through Clan societies and highland games that many have recovered their national heritage. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Cooley family to immigrate North America:

Cooley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Samuel Cooley, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1631 2
• William Cooley, being a mariner of New London in 1634
• John Cooley settled at Salem, Massachusetts, in the year 1638
• Benjamin Cooley, who arrived in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1646 2
• Peter Cooley was a freeman of Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1664
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cooley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• William Cooley, who settled in Maryland in 1774
• Peter Cooley, who settled in Virginia in 1774

Cooley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• M Cooley, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
• Adam, Charles, Elizabeth, John B., Joseph and Thomas Cooley, all, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1773 and 1856
• Edward Cooley, who landed in Colorado in 1885 2
• Annie Cooley, aged 19, who arrived in America from Ireland, in 1892

Cooley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Annie Cooley, aged 22, who arrived in America from Liverpool, in 1900
• Catherine Cooley, aged 4, who arrived in America from Liverpool, in 1904
• Frank L. Cooley, aged 32, who arrived in America, in 1905
• Carrie M. Cooley, aged 18, who arrived in America, in 1908
• Arthur J. Cooley, aged 35, who arrived in America, in 1908
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cooley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Mr. Preserved Cooley U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 3

Cooley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• John Cooley, who landed in Canada in 1830
• Hugh Cooley, who arrived in Canada in 1831
• Peter Cooley, who arrived in Canada in 1836
• Martin Cooley, who settled in Canada in 1839
• Mr. Bryan Cooley, aged 12 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Wolfville" departing 25th April 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 10th June 1847 but he died on board 4
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cooley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. William Cooley, British Convict who was convicted in Maidstone, Kent, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
• Mr. Thomas Todd Cooley, (b. 1805), aged 19, English farrier who was convicted in London, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 6th April 1824, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1886 6
• Mr. William Cooley, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 3rd November 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
• Mr. Horace Cooley, (b. 1816), aged 24, American ploughman who was convicted in Kingston, Ontario, Canada for life for burglary and unlawful invasion, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 28th September 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), captured at the battle of Windmill in 1838 8
• Mrs. Mary Cooley, (b. 1821), aged 28, Irish house servant who was convicted in Clare, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Australasia" on 26th June 1849, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1865 9

Cooley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. William Cooley, (b. 1846), aged 28, Scottish painter, from Lanark travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 10
• Mrs. Margaret Cooley, (b. 1848), aged 26, Scottish settler, from Lanark travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 10
• Mr. James Cooley, (b. 1869), aged 5, Scottish settler, from Lanark travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 10
• Mr. John Cooley, (b. 1873), aged 1, Scottish settler, from Lanark travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 10
• James Cooley, aged 39, a labourer, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" in 1875

• Archie "Gunslinger" Cooley (1940-2024), American former college football coach
• Arthur P. "Art" Cooley (1934-2022), American biology teacher, naturalist and expedition leader, co-founder of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
• Wester Steven "Wes" Cooley (1956-2021), American motorcycle road racer in the AMA Superbike class, winner of the 1979 and 1980 AMA Superbike Championships on a Yoshimura Suzuki GS1000s
• Edward James "Eddie" Cooley (1933-2020), American R&B singer and songwriter, co-writer of "Fever"
• Denton Arthur Cooley (1920-2016), pioneering American heart surgeon, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Alex Cooley (1941-2015), American music promoter, known for the Atlanta International Pop Festival and Music Midtown
• Campbell Cooley (b. 1966), American actor and voice artist, known for his work on the Power Rangers
• Hallam Cooley (1895-1971), American actor of the silent era who appeared in 106 films between 1913 and 1936
• Ed Cooley (b. 1969), American college basketball coach
• Wester Shadric "Wes" Cooley (b. 1932), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon (1995-1997)
• ... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• My Cooley-Walters Ancestry from Fairchance, Pennsylvania, and Surrounding Areas by Kathryn Mercedes Cooley Miller.