Kealey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish families began leaving their homeland for North America in the late 18th century. These families were usually modestly well off, but they were looking forward to owning and working on a sizable tract of land of their own. This pattern of emigration continued until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine sparked a major exodus of destitute and desperate Irish people. These people were not leaving for a grant of land in North America because by this time the East Coast had reached its saturation point and free land was scarce. They were merely looking to escape the disease, starvation, and hopelessness that Ireland had fallen into. Although these unfortunate immigrants did not receive a warm welcome by the established populations in the United States and what would become Canada, they were absolutely critical to the rapid development that these two nations enjoyed. They would help populate the western lands and provide the cheap labor required for a rapid industrialization. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many early bearers of the name Kealey or one of its variants:

Kealey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Lizzie Kealey, aged 20, who landed in America from Tullow, in 1898
• Bridget Kealey, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Derry, in 1899

Kealey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Mary Kealey, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Derry, in 1904
• Patrick Kealey, aged 31, who immigrated to the United States from Garagh, Ireland, in 1907
• Sarah E. Kealey, aged 39, who landed in America from Wandsworth, England, in 1908
• Thomas Edward Kealey, aged 2, who immigrated to America, in 1909
• Catherine Kealey, aged 21, who landed in America from Dungwin, Ireland, in 1909
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kealey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Robert H. Kealey, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Lilford" in 1839 4

• Steven William "Steve" Kealey (b. 1947), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1968 to 1973
• Tom Kealey, American author, winner of the 2012 Flannery O'Connor Award
• Lieutenant Gerald P. Kealey, U.S. Navy, medical officer at South Pole Station in 1971, eponym of the Kealey Ice Rise, Antarctica
• Harold W. Kealey, American Republican politician, Mayor of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, 1960 5
• Gregory Kealey (b. 1948), Canadian historian, founding editor of the journal Labour/Le Travail, Provost of the University of New Brunswick
• Mitchell Kealey (b. 1984), Australian middle distance runner at the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Ben Kealey, English musician, touring keyboardist for the rock band Kasabian
• Terence Kealey (b. 1959), English Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham