Meeham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish immigrants began to leave the English-controlled Ireland in sizable numbers during the late 18th century. Many of these Irish immigrated to British North America or the United States in the hopes of gaining their own tract of farmland. This pattern of migration grew steadily until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine caused a great exodus of immigrants to North America. These immigrants differed from their predecessors in that they were desperately fleeing the disease and starvation that plagued their homeland, and many were entirely destitute when they arrived in North America. Although these penniless immigrants were not warmly welcomed when they arrived, they were critical to the rapid development of the United States and what would become known as Canada. Many went to populate the western frontiers and others provided the cheap labor the new manufacturing sector and the building of bridges, roads, railways, and canals required. A thorough examination of immigration and passenger lists has revealed some of the earliest people to arrive in North America with name Meeham or one of its variants:

Meeham Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Gordon Meeham, aged 20, who landed in Quebec in 1834

Meeham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• David Meeham, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Sumner"
• Jeremiah Meeham, aged 12, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Clara"
• Thomas Meeham, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Clara"