McWhinnie 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 McWhinnie name:

McWhinnie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Elizabeth McWhinnie, who settled in New York in 1774
• Jean McWhinnie, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1775 1

McWhinnie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Kate McWhinnie, aged 30, arrived in New York in 1896 aboard the ship "Anchoria" from Glasgow, Scotland 2

McWhinnie Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Alexr. McWhinnie, aged 28, originally from Coatbridge, Scotland, arrived in New York in 1909 aboard the ship "Caledonia" from Glasgow, Scotland 2
• Esther McWhinnie, aged 25, originally from Coatbridge, Scotland, arrived in New York in 1909 aboard the ship "Caledonia" from Glasgow, Scotland 2
• Margaret McA. McWhinnie, aged 25, originally from Hamilton, Scotland, arrived in New York in 1909 aboard the ship "Columbia" from Glasgow, Scotland 2
• Donald T Mc Whinnie, aged 23, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Craycroft" from Matanzas, Cuba 2
• William McWhinnie, aged 31, arrived in New York City, New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Giuseppe Verdi" from Naples, Italy 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:

McWhinnie Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• John McWhinnie, who landed in Canada in 1816

• Scott McWhinnie, American animator, known for his work on Rio2 (2014), Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)
• Mary Alice McWhinnie (1922-1980), American biologist, professor at DePaul University, an authority on krill; the first woman to sail for two months in Antarctic waters aboard the NSF's research vessel, USNS Eltanin and the first American woman to serve as chief scientist at an Antarctic research station, eponym of McWhinnie Peak, Antarctica
• Donald McWhinnie (1920-1987), British Tony award nominated director, producer and writer, BBC Assistant Head of Sound Drama from 1953, Drama Script Editor 1951-1953, producer Drama Department 1949-1951, and scriptwriter/producer European Division 1945-1949
• Robert McWhinnie, Canadian co-publisher of the Woodstock Sentinel-Review (1854-1870), son of John McWhinnie
• John McWhinnie, Scottish-born, Canadian co-publisher of the Woodstock Sentinel-Review (1854-1870)
• Debbie McWhinnie (b. 1981), Scottish international football striker who currently plays for the Scotland National Team