Gains 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 Gains:

Gains Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Henry Gains, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1638 5
• Thomas Gains, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1640 5
• Daniel Gains, who landed in Lancaster, Maas in 1660 5

Gains Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Ann Gains, who settled in Pensacola, FL in 1769

Gains Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• John Gains, aged 30, who landed in Massachusetts in 1812 5
• Alexander Gains, who arrived in Virginia in 1852

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gains Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Alice Gains, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Samuel Gains, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Mr. Josiah Gains U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 6

Gains Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. John Gains, English labourer who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
• Mr. William Gains, English convict who was convicted in Leeds, Yorkshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
• Mary Gains, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Velocity"

• Courtney Gains (b. 1965), American actor, best known for his role as Malachai in the 1984 horror movie Children of the Corn
• Lawrence Samuel "Larry" Gains (1900-1983), Canadian black heavyweight boxer, Champion of the Dominion of Canada and the British Empire; he never had a chance to be World Champion due to his skin colour