Mc Namee 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 Mc Namee name:

Mc Namee Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Patrick McNamee, aged 25, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 2
• John McNamee, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1845 2
• James McNamee, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 2
• Francis McNamee, who landed in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1852 2
• Bernard, Charles, Francis, Hugh, James, John, Michael, Patrick, and Thomas McNamee all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mc Namee Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Patrick McNamee, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Edward Reid" in 1833
• Biddy McNamee, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Edward Reid" in 1833
• Patrick McNamee, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834
• Patrick McNamee, aged 9, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Protector" in 1834

Mc Namee Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Nicholas McNamee, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Trafalgar" in 1847 3
• Marcella McNamee, aged 39, a housekeeper, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Standard" 4
• Hugh McNamee, aged 25, a blacksmith, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Dirigo" 5
• James McNamee, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Bee"
• Julia McNamee, aged 24, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Bee"

• Eoin McNamee (b. 1961), Irish writer
• Danny McNamee (b. 1960), Irish former electronic engineer who was wrongly convicted
• John McNamee (1941-2024), Scottish professional footballer, he played more than 280 league games
• Kathleen Mavis "Kay" McNamee (1931-2022), Canadian swimmer from Vancouver, British Columbia who competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics and the 1952 Summer Olympics
• Peter McNamee (1935-2021), Scottish professional footballer who played in the Football League for Peterborough United and Notts County as an outside left, he made nearly 350 appearances for Peterborough United
• Paul McNamee (b. 1954), retired Australian tennis player, winner of the 1982 Wimbledon Championships
• Peter McNamee (b. 1950), retired Canadian professional WHA ice hockey forward
• Luke McNamee (1871-1952), American admiral and 12th Naval Governor of Guam, recipient of the Navy Cross
• Joe McNamee (b. 1926), retired American professional NBA basketball player
• Jessica McNamee, Australian actress
• ... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)