McNamee 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 McNamee name:

McNamee 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:

McNamee 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

McNamee 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"

• 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
• Graham McNamee (1888-1942), American radio broadcaster
• Ruth B. McNamee, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives, 1975-84 (63rd District 1975-82, 65th District 1983-84)
• Lawrence R. McNamee, American politician, Mayor of Monrovia, California, 1952
• John H. H. McNamee, American politician, Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1902-04
• Harry McNamee, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Ulster County 1st District, 1894
• Frank McNamee, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Nevada, 1940
• Edward McNamee, American politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 13th District, 1930
• Deborah H. McNamee, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1972
• ... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)