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Irish surname

McCabe: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Mac Cába · 'son of Cába' (probably a nickname; cf. 'cába', a cap or hood)

McCabe is an anglicised form of Mac Cába, 'son of Cába', probably a nickname. Woulfe (1923) calls the McCabes a military family of Norse origin who came from the Hebrides in the 14th century and became captains of gallowglasses to the O'Rourkes and O'Reillys in Breifney. In 1890 the name was found mainly in Cavan, Monaghan and Dublin.

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Coat of arms associated with the McCabe surname
Irish formMac Cába
Meaning'son of Cába' (probably a nickname; cf. 'cába', a cap or hood)
CountiesCavan, Leitrim, Monaghan, Meath
Other spellings3

Origin of the McCabe name

Woulfe: 'a military family of Norse origin who came over from the Hebrides, in the 14th century, and settled in Breifney', where they were captains of gallowglasses to the O'Rourkes and O'Reillys. Their pedigree is given by MacFirbis, 'from which it appears that they are a branch of the Mac Leods'.[1]

  1. 14th centuryThe McCabes come from the Hebrides and settle in Breifney.[1]
  2. 1358Earliest mention of the McCabes in the Annals of the Four Masters.[1]
  3. 1798United Irishman William Putnam McCabe arrested in Dublin, then freed.[3]
  4. 1879Edward McCabe becomes Archbishop of Dublin; cardinal three years later.[4]
  5. 1890145 McCabe birth entries; chiefly Cavan, Monaghan and Dublin.[5]

Where in Ireland

Co. CavanPart of Breifney, where the McCabes settled; first county for McCabe births in 1890.[1][5]
Co. LeitrimPart of Breifney; Woulfe says McCabes are 'still numerous' there.[1]
Co. MonaghanNeighbouring county where Woulfe finds them numerous; second in 1890.[1][5]
Co. MeathNeighbouring county where Woulfe finds them numerous.[1]
Co. DublinThird of the counties where McCabe was principally found in 1890.[5]

Notable people named McCabe

William Putnam McCabec. 1775–1821United Irishman born near Belfast, noted for disguise; arrested 1798, later lived in France; died in Paris.[3]
Cardinal Edward McCabe1816–1885Born in Dublin; Archbishop of Dublin from 1879 and cardinal three years later.[4]

Other spellings

MacCabe · M'Caba · Macabe[1]

Scottish connection

Woulfe says the McCabes came over from the Hebrides in the 14th century, and that their pedigree is given by MacFirbis, 'from which it appears that they are a branch of the Mac Leods', whom Woulfe calls 'a well-known Scottish clan, once powerful in Lewis and Harris'.[1][2]

The McCabe coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the McCabe surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

McCabe crest gifts

Clan Mccabe Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap YR54 Mccabe Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Mccabe Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Maccabe Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapIV48 Classic Cap - Maccabe Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Maccabe Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Mccabe Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapHB61 Classic Cap - Mccabe Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Mccabe Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Maccabe Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap SD50 Maccabe Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Maccabe Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

McCabe surname: questions

Is McCabe Irish or Scottish?

Woulfe describes the McCabes as a military family of Norse origin who came over to Ireland from the Hebrides in the 14th century and settled in Breifney (Leitrim and Cavan), where he found them still numerous. Their pedigree is given by MacFirbis, 'from which it appears that they are a branch of the Mac Leods', a Scottish clan.[1][2]

What does McCabe mean?

Woulfe gives Mac Cába, 'son of Cába', probably a nickname, comparing the word 'cába', a cap or hood.[1]

Where in Ireland is McCabe from?

Breifney, i.e. Leitrim and Cavan, and the neighbouring counties of Monaghan and Meath, according to Woulfe. In 1890 Matheson found the name principally in Cavan, Monaghan and Dublin.[1][5]

Sources

  1. Mac Cába — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macc/mac-caba.php
  2. Mac Leóid — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macl/mac-leoid.php
  3. William Putnam McCabe — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/WilliamPutnamMcCabe.php
  4. Edward McCabe — The Catholic Encyclopedia (E. D'Alton, 1910), New Advent. newadvent.org/cathen/09484a.htm
  5. McCabe — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/mccabe.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).