McKinney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the McKinney family in North America:

McKinney Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Christopher McKinney, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 2

McKinney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• William McKinney, aged 46, who landed in New York in 1812 2
• Margaret McKinney, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817 2
• George McKinney, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1818 2
• Thomas F McKinney, aged 26, who arrived in Texas in 1827 2
• James McKinney, who arrived in Texas in 1835 2
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McKinney Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• John McKinney, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
• Mary McKinney, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
• Susan McKinney, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
• Henry McKinney, aged 16, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
• James McKinney, aged 40, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor Gordon" in 1834
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McKinney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Rev. Mckinney, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 3
• Mrs. Mckinney, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 3
• Annie McKinney, aged 22, a domestic servant, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" in 1875
• John McKinney, aged 34, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1876
• Miss Mary McKinney, (b. 1858), aged 20, Irish settler from Tyrone departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878

• Nina Mae McKinney (1913-1967), American actress, one of the first African-American film stars
• Samuel B. McKinney (1926-2018), American Christian pastor and Civil Rights leader
• Larry J. McKinney (1944-2017), American jurist, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana (2009-2017)
• Carlos "Los Da Mystro" McKinney (b. 1978), Grammy-nominated American record producer and jazz pianist
• Horace Albert "Bones" McKinney (1919-1997), American professional basketball player and coach
• William Denison "Bill" McKinney (1931-2011), American character actor
• Tamara McKinney (b. 1962), American former World Cup alpine ski racer who won four World Cup season titles
• Jimmy McKinney (b. 1983), American professional basketball player and film actor
• Cynthia Ann McKinney (b. 1955), American politician and activist
• William McKinney (1895-1969), American jazz drummer, founder of McKinney's Cotton Pickers in 1926
• ... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Converging Paths by Thelma D. McKinney.
• The Family McKinney by Nancy McKinney Sayford.