Neilan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Neilan family relocated to North American shores quite early:

Neilan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• John, Johanna and Elizabeth Neilan, who all died en route to Quebec in 1847
• Mr. John Neilan, aged 35 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Virginius" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 1
• Ms. Judith Neilan, aged 28 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Cape Breton" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 2
• Mrs. Elizabeth Neilan, aged 65 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ninian" departing 13th April 1847 from Limerick, Ireland; the ship arrived on 12th June 1847 but she died on board 3
• Miss. Johanna Neilan who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ninian" departing 13th April 1847 from Limerick, Ireland; the ship arrived on 12th June 1847 but she died on board 3
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Neilan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Margaret Neilan, aged 19, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"
• Margaret Neilan, aged 20, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"
• Ann Neilan, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Nimroud"

• Gabrielle Neilan, American model and beauty pageant competitor, Miss Congeniality (2013) for Oregon
• Paul Neilan, American novelist, best known for his work Apathy and Other Small Victories
• Marshall Neilan (1891-1958), American Directors Guild of America film actor and director; at one time he was top director for Goldwyn Pictures
• Martin Neilan, Irish Fianna Fáil politician
• Alison Roberta Noble Neilan (1884-1942), English suffragette, she was imprisoned three times for her activities