Kneeland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Kneeland family came to North America quite early:

Kneeland Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Philip Kneeland, who landed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1637 2

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kneeland Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Bartholomew Kneeland, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
• Samuel Kneeland, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
• William Kneeland, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750

• Samuel Kneeland (1696-1769), American printer and publisher of the Boston Gazette (1727 to 1741)
• Samuel Kneeland (1821-1888), American naturalist
• David Joseph Kneeland (1881-1904), American track and field athlete at the 1904 Summer Olympics
• Abner Kneeland (1774-1844), American evangelist and theologian
• Stillman Foster Kneeland (b. 1845), American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Kings County 7th District, 1893 3
• Samuel S. Kneeland, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Onondaga County 2nd District, 1853 3
• John Kneeland, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Owosso, Michigan, 1912 3
• James Kneeland, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin, 1888 3
• E. G. Kneeland, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 44th District, 1921-24 3
• Bill Kneeland, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Mexico, 1948 3
• ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)