McGann 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 McGann name:

McGann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Andrew McGann, who landed in America in 1810 3
• John McGann, aged 1, who arrived in New York, NY in 1848 3
• Mary McGann, aged 40, who landed in New York, NY in 1848 3
• Mrs. William McGann, who arrived in America in 1857 3

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McGann Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Miss. Mary McGann, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "George" departing 13th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 12th June 1847 but she died on board 4
• Mr. Patrick McGann, aged 3 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "George" departing 13th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 12th June 1847 but he died on board 4

McGann Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Michael McGann, English convict who was convicted in Durham, England for 11 years, transported aboard the "Belgravia" on 4th April 1866, arriving in Western Australia 5

McGann Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. McGann (McGaan), Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Schiehallion" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th December 1875 6

• Lawrence Edward McGann (1852-1928), Irish-born, American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois (1891-1895)
• Dennis Lawrence "Dan" McGann (1871-1910), American Major League Baseball player, known as Cap McGann he played first base from 1896 to 1908
• Ambrose J. McGann (1868-1941), American Major League Baseball infielder and outfielder who played for the Louisville Colonels in 1895
• C. Steven McGann, the United States Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu
• John Raymond McGann (1924-2002), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church
• William C. McGann (1915-1977), American film director
• Michelle McGann (b. 1969), American professional golfer
• Josephine M. McGann, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1944 (alternate), 1956 7
• John P. McGann, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Nassau County 2nd District, 1942 7
• Frank T. McGann, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Circuit Judge in Michigan 3rd Circuit, 1935 7
• ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)