Devin 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 Devin name:

Devin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Symon Devin, who arrived in Maryland in 1671 3

Devin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• James Devin, who arrived in New York in 1799 3

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Devin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Michael Devin, aged 21, a carpenter, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Leslie Gault" in 1833
• Susan Devin, aged 19, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Leslie Gault" in 1833

Devin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Alexander Devin, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1851 4

• Thomas Casimer Devin (1822-1878), United States Army officer and general
• William Franklin Devin (1898-1982), American Republican politician, Municipal judge in Washington, 1939-42; Mayor of Seattle, Washington, 1942-52; Defeated, 1941, 1952 5
• William Augustus Devin (b. 1871), American Democratic Party politician, Superior Court Judge in North Carolina 10th District, 1913-35; Justice of North Carolina State Supreme Court, 1935-40 5
• John D. Devin, American politician, Mayor of Malden, Massachusetts, 1937 5
• Alexander Devin, American politician, Delegate to Indiana State Constitutional Convention, 1816 5
• Zak Devin Boggs (b. 1986), American soccer player
• M. Devin Galligan (d. 2003), founder of the charitable organization "Strain the Brain"
• Devin Paul Smeltzer (b. 1995), American Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent, former player for the Minnesota Twins and Miami Marlins
• Devin Kerlee, American actor, known for his work on Revelation Road: The Black Rider (2014)
• Devin George Durrant (b. 1960), retired American professional basketball player who played for the Indiana Pacers and the Phoenix Suns from 1984 to 1985