MacGuire History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the MacGuire name:

MacGuire Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Roger MacGuire, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 1
• Mary MacGuire, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 1
• Bridget MacGuire, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 1
• Ellen MacGuire, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1816 1
• James Macguire, who arrived in Maryland in 1840 1

MacGuire Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. John Macguire, English convict who was convicted in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
• John MacGuire, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Anson" on September 23, 1843, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 3
• Miss Margaret MacGuire who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 10th November 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
• Mr. Edward MacGuire, English convict who was convicted in Knutsford (Nether Knutsford), Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the ""Blenheim"" on 24th July 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island, Australia 5
• Mary MacGuire, Scottish convict from Glasgow, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on October 4, 1851, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 6

MacGuire Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. Joseph Macguire, (b. 1832), aged 28, Scottish farm labourer from Lanarkshire travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st August 1860 7
• Margaret Macguire, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1864

• Joe MacGuire, American politician, Member of the Wyoming House of Representatives (2017-)
• Andrew MacGuire, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 3rd District, 1928 8