Duane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name Duane or a variant listed above:

Duane Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Thomas Duane, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 2

Duane Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• O Duane, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
• Frank Duane, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1854 2
• Patrick Duane, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1862 2
• John Duane, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1863 2

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Duane Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Miss. B. Duane, aged 12 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "John Bolton" departing from the port of John Bolton, Liverpool but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 3

• William John Duane (1780-1865), American politician, Secretary of the Treasury, 1833 4
• Thomas K. Duane (b. 1955), American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for New York, 1992; Member of New York State Senate 29th District, 1999- 4
• Patrick J. Duane, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Waltham, Massachusetts, 1911-12 4
• Martin H. Duane, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for New York, 1896 4
• Margaret Duane, American politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 28th District, 1966 4
• John B. Duane, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Schenectady County, 1836 4
• James C. Duane, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Albany County, 1796-97 4
• James Duane (1733-1797), American politician, Mayor of New York City, New York, 1784-89; Delegate to New York convention to ratify U.S. constitution from New-York County, 1788; U.S. District Judge for New York, 1790-94 4
• Howard Duane, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Mayor of Wilmington, Delaware, 1931 4
• Ronald Duane Nery (1934-2002), American football defensive end