Grimes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Grimes family came to North America quite early:

Grimes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Greorge Grimes, who landed in Virginia in 1622 2
• Ann Grimes, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1624 2
• Samuel Grimes a "pewterer" who landed in Boston in 1635
• Jon Grimes, who landed in Virginia in 1635 2
• Walter Grimes, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 2
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grimes Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• John Grimes, who settled in North Carolina in 1701
• Archy Grimes, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 2
• Archibald Grimes, who landed in Virginia in 1711 2
• Isaac Grimes, who landed in Virginia in 1711 2
• Constantine Grimes, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 2
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grimes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Bernard Grimes, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1802
• James Grimes, who landed in America in 1805 2
• Henry Grimes, who landed in America in 1806 2
• Guy Grimes, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1818 2
• Thomas Grimes, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 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:

Grimes Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• James Grimes, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Grimes Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Catherine Grimes, who settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1816
• Catherine Grimes, aged 29, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Britannia" from Sligo, Ireland
• Patrick Grimes, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
• Sarah Grimes, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
• Patrick Grimes, aged 27, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Perseus" in 1834
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grimes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• John Grimes, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3
• Mr. John Grimes, British Convict who was convicted in Shropshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
• Mr. James Grimes, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 2nd May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
• Mr. Thomas Grimes, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 27 September 1834, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
• Mr. William Grimes, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1842 7
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Grimes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. John Grimes, (b. 1809), aged 38, Irish settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 8
• Mrs. Mary Grimes Née Moore, (b. 1818), aged 29, Irish settler travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 8
• Miss Maria Grimes, Irish settler travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847, she died in hospital after arriving 8
• Child Grimes, Irish settler born aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847, died on board 8
• Miss Catherine Grimes, (b. 1845), aged 20, British dairywoman travelling from London aboard the ship "Eastern Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 4th January 1865 9
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Kathryn Eileen Grimes (b. 2006), American competitive swimmer, silver medal winner at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, she competed at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics
• Howard Lee Grimes (1941-2022), American drummer, best known as a member of the Hi Rhythm Section
• Jane Brown Grimes (1941-2021), American President of the United States Tennis Association from 2007 to 2008, the second female president in USTA history, inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2014
• Stephen Henry "Steve" Grimes (1927-2021), American lawyer and jurist who served as a justice of the Florida Supreme Court from 1987 to 1996, including as Chief Justice from 1994 until 1996
• Henry Grimes (1935-2020), American jazz double bassist, violinist, and poet; he died from COVID-19
• Alison C. Lundergan Grimes, American Democratic Party politician, Member, Rules Committee, Democratic National Convention, 2008
• Tammy Lee Grimes (1934-2016), American two-time Tony award winning actress and singer who starred in her own ABC television series, The Tammy Grimes Show in 1966, inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame
• Oscar Ray Grimes Sr. (1893-1953), American Major League Baseball first baseman
• James Wilson Grimes (1816-1872), American politician, United States Senator from Iowa (1859-1869), 3rd Governor of Iowa
• Burleigh Arland Grimes (1893-1985), American Major League Baseball pitcher, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964
• ... (Another 50 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

• Genealogy of Myers and Grimes Families by W. Oscar Grimes.