Keary 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 Keary family relocated to North American shores quite early:

Keary Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Patt Keary, aged 40, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 2
• Thomas Keary, who landed in Mississippi in 1852 2
• Mary Keary, aged 15, who landed in New York in 1854 2

Keary Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. Michael Keary, (b. 1753), aged 40, Irish landlord who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3

Keary Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. William Keary, (b. 1780), aged 40, Irish soldier who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
• Mary Keary, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Elgin" in 1849 5
• Mary Keary, aged 15, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Elgin" 5
• Bridget Keary, aged 20, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" 6
• Maria Keary, aged 24, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Bucephalus"
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Keary Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Isaac Keary, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Beauty" in 1863
• Mary Keary, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Beauty" in 1863

• Louis A. Keary, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 12th District, 1936, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1950; Candidate for Circuit Judge in Michigan 12th Circuit, 1940 (primary), 1948 7
• Andrew Keary (b. 1987), Irish hurler, Galway Minor Hurling Captain in 2005, All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final winning captain in 2005
• Anna Maria "Annie" Keary (1825-1879), English novelist, poet and children's writer, born at Bilton Rectory, near Wetherby, Yorkshire, on 3 March 1825 where her father, William Keary, rector of the parish, was an Irishman from co. Galway, who had originally been in the army; 8
• Albert Keary (b. 1889), English professional footballer who played from 1911 to 1913
• Patrick Keary (b. 1993), English footballer
• Charles Francis Keary (1848-1917), English scholar and historian
• Patrick Joseph "Pat" Keary (1901-1974), Australian rules footballer
• Lieutenant-General Sir Henry D'Urban Keary KCB, KCIE, DSO (b. 1857), British Indian Army officer
• Luke Keary (b. 1992), Australian professional rugby league player