Keane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Keane family relocated to North American shores quite early:

Keane Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Martin, Michael, Patrick, and William Keane all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Keane Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Miss. Ann Keane, aged 8 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Marinus" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In October 1847 4
• Mrs. Bridget Keane, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Sarah" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 4
• Mrs. Bridget Keane, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Merinos" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 4
• Mr. Christopher Keane, aged 4 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Marinus" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In September 1847 4
• Mr. Edward Keane, aged 1 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Blonde" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle In July 1847 4
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keane Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. John Keane, (Kane), (b. 1768), aged 25, Irish convict who was convicted in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5

Keane Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Andrew Keane, (b. 1762), aged 39, Irish convict who was convicted in Kilkenny, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
• Mr. Patrick Keane, (Kane), (b. 1784), aged 25, Irish convict who was convicted in Waterford, Ireland for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Boyd" on 10th March 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1824 7
• Bernard Keane, a gardener, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
• Mr. Michael Keane, (b. 1809), aged 19, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fergusson" on 16th November 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he was executed in 1833 8
• Mr. Martin Keane, (b. 1811), aged 20, Irish shoe maker who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 16th August 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keane Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Ellen Keane, aged 26, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 10
• Margaret Keane, aged 17, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1874
• Mr. Joseph John Keane, (b. 1854), aged 21, Cornish farm labourer departing on 30th June 1875 aboard the ship "Merope" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 22nd September 1875 11
• Mr. Joseph John Keane, (b. 1854), aged 21, Cornish farm labourer departing on 30th June 1875 aboard the ship "Merope" going to Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand arriving in port on 22nd September 1875 12
• Mary Keane, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alumbagh" in 1875 10
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Margaret D. H. Keane (1927-2022), born Peggy Doris Hawkins, an American artist known for her paintings of subjects with big eyes, typically paintings of women, children, or animals in oil or mixed media, sometimes referred to as the "Wayne Newton of the art world."
• Anthony Keane (1928-2016), American fencer who competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1968 Summer Olympics
• Peter Keane, American blues/folk musician
• Jim Keane, American politician, Democratic Party member of the Montana Senate
• James Patrick "Jim" Keane (1924-2011), professional American NFL football end
• James John Keane (1857-1929), American archbishop of the Catholic Church
• Glen Keane (b. 1954), American Annie Award winning animator, best known for his character animation at Walt Disney Studios for feature films including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, and Tangled
• Bob Keane (1922-2009), American musician, producer and owner of the record label Del-Fi Records, producer and manager of Ritchie Valens
• William "Bill" Aloysius Keane (1922-2011), American cartoonist of The Family Circus
• Edward Keane (1884-1959), American actor of the '30s and '40s
• ... (Another 38 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Patrick Doyle and Timothy Keane by Clarke L. Neal.
• Southern Garners (also Keane) by Sam Garner.