Kernan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Kernan family in North America:

Kernan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• William Kernan, aged 21, who landed in New York in 1802 2
• Patk Kernan, aged 24, who landed in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1803 2
• Manus Kernan, who arrived in America in 1805 2
• Patrick Kernan, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817 2
• John Kernan, who arrived in Mississippi in 1831 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:

Kernan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Mr. James Kernan who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Erin's Queen" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in 1847 3
• Miss. Catherine Kernan, aged 20 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ayrshire" departing 4th July 1847 from Newry, Ireland; the ship arrived on 19th August 1847 but she died on board 4
• Miss. Margaret Kernan, aged 23 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Henry Pottinger" departing 29th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 7th August 1847 but she died on board 4
• Miss. Mary Kernan who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ayrshire" departing 4th July 1847 from Newry, Ireland; the ship arrived on 19th August 1847 but she died on board 4
• Mrs. Mary Kernan, aged 28 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Henry Pottinger" departing 29th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 7th August 1847 but she died on board 4

Kernan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Thomas Kernan, (Keenan), British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1831 5
• Wm. Kernan, a blacksmith, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
• Mr. Richard Kernan who was convicted in Coventry, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Duchess of Northumberland" on 1st October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
• Joseph Kernan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Amity Hall" in 1850 7

Kernan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Miss Ann Kernan, (b. 1851), aged 23, Irish domestic servant, from Roscommon travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 8

• Brigadier-General Redmond Francis Kernan (1895-1982), American Member of War Department Special Staff (1945-1946) 9
• Joseph Kernan, American professional baseball player
• Joseph D. "Joe" Kernan (b. 1955), United States Navy vice admiral
• James Lawrence Kernan (1838-1912), American theater manager and philanthropist
• Joseph "Joe" Eugene Kernan (b. 1946), American politician
• Michael J. Kernan (1884-1952), American investment broker and New York State Senator
• Francis Kernan (1816-1892), American lawyer and politician
• Francis K. Kernan, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1932, 1936 10
• Francis Kernan (1816-1892), American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Oneida County 1st District, 1861; U.S. Representative from New York 21st District, 1863-65 10
• Edward F. Kernan, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1916 10
• ... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)