Feeley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name Feeley or a variant listed above, including:

Feeley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Sarah Feeley, who arrived in Maryland in 1658 2

Feeley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• William and Morris Feeley, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1860
• Michael Feeley, who landed in Michigan in 1882 2
• Ellen Feeley, aged 17, who immigrated to the United States from Roscommon, in 1893

Feeley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Ellen Feeley, aged 27, who settled in America, in 1901
• Bridget Feeley, aged 17, who immigrated to the United States from Tubbercurry, Ireland, in 1907
• Agnes Feeley, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Clonbur, Ireland, in 1907
• Francis C. Feeley, aged 48, who immigrated to the United States from Kingstown, Ireland, in 1907
• Augustus Feeley, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States from Boyle, Ireland, in 1908
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Feeley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Thomas Dominick Feeley, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 3

Feeley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Miss Johanna Feeley, (b. 1856), aged 22, Irish domestic servant from Tipperary departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878

• A J Feeley (b. 1977), American professional football player (NFL)
• Paul Feeley (1910-1966), American visual artist
• Thomas T. Feeley, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Niagara County 1st District, 1910 4
• Thomas F. Feeley, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 5th District, 1918; Delegate to Socialist National Convention from California, 1920 4
• Mike Feeley, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Colorado 7th District, 2002 4
• Clement J. Feeley, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Rockland County, 1935 4
• Martin Feeley (1950-2023), born Thomas Martin Feeley, an Irish vascular surgeon and rower who competed in the men's coxless four event at the 1976 Summer Olympics
• Paddie Feeley (b. 1965), Irish professional footballer
• John Feeley, Irish classical guitarist and teacher