Caroline 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 Caroline family relocated to North American shores quite early:

Caroline Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Owen Caroline, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1767 1
• Patrick Caroline, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1767 1

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Caroline Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Kitty Caroline, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
• John Caroline, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
• Jane Caroline, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
• Bess Caroline, aged 14, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
• Rose Caroline, aged 10, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Caroline Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• T. Caroline, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Constance" in 1849 2
• Catherine Caroline, aged 29, a general servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" 3

• James C. "J.C." Caroline (1933-2017), American football player, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
• Countess Louisa Maximilienne Caroline (1752-1824), Countess of Albany and wife of Prince Charlie
• Diana Caroline Whalen (b. 1956), Canadian politician who represented the electoral district of Halifax Clayton Park in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 2003-2013, and Clayton Park West from 2013-2017
• Marayke Caroline Jonkers (b. 1981), retired Australian three-time silver medalist Paralympic swimmer and paratriathlete
• Nanci Caroline Griffith (1953-2021), American singer, guitarist, and songwriter from Austin, Texas, who lived in Nashville, Tennessee, winner of the 1994 Grammy Award for the album Other Voices, Other Rooms
• Lindsey Caroline Vonn (b. 1984), American former World Cup alpine ski racer on the US Ski Team. She won four World Cup overall championships. She won the gold medal in downhill at the 2010 Winter Olympics, in 2016, she won her 20th World Cup crystal globe title, the overall record for men or women. She is the most successful American ski racer and considered one of the greatest of all skiers. In 2010, she received the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year award and was the United States Olympic Committee's sportswoman of the year
• Rosamund Caroline Bosanquet (1940-2013), British cellist, music teacher, and composer
• Charlotte Caroline Richardson (1775-1850), English poetess, born at York, of poor parents named Smith; she married a shoemaker named Richardson in 1802, but he died of consumption two years later and later she became blind
• Ysabel Caroline Birkbeck (1859-1934), née Elwes, a British toymaker and philanthropist, best known as founder of the notable Westacre Dolls' House company
• Lindsey Caroline Kildow (b. 1984), birth name of Lindsey Caroline Vonn, an American World Cup alpine ski racer on the US Ski Team, winner of four World Cup overall championships