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Irish surname

McCaffrey: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Mac Gafraidh · 'son of Godfrey' (also written Mac Gofradha, Mac Cafraidh)

Woulfe (1923) gives McCaffrey as an anglicised form of Mac Gafraidh, 'son of Godfrey', the name of a branch of the Maguires of Fermanagh, now common in Ulster. He says it is to be distinguished from Mac Eachmharcaigh, which is sometimes similarly anglicised. In 1890, there were 61 McCaffrey entries in Ireland including spelling varieties (31 spelled McCaffrey), 56 of them in Ulster.

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Coat of arms associated with the McCaffrey surname
Irish formMac Gafraidh
Meaning'son of Godfrey' (also written Mac Gofradha, Mac Cafraidh)
CountiesFermanagh, Tyrone
Other spellings6
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McCaffrey crest gifts

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Origin of the McCaffrey name

Woulfe: Mac Gafraidh, 'son of Godfrey', 'the name of a branch of the Maguires of Fermanagh, now common in Ulster'; 'to be distinguished from Mac Eachmharcaigh (which see), which is sometimes similarly anglicised'.[1]

  1. 1326Four Masters: Godfrey Mac Caffrey was slain by Cathal O'Rourke.[4]
  2. 1328Four Masters: Matthew Reagh Mac Caffrey was slain by Muintir Gearan.[4]
  3. 1383Four Masters: John Mac Caffrey and Manus Mac David were slain on the one day.[5]
  4. 1495Four Masters: Gilla Ballagh, son of Cuconnaught Mac Caffrey, is named in the slaying of Manus Mael Maguire.[6]
  5. 189061 McCaffrey entries including spelling varieties (31 spelled McCaffrey), 56 in Ulster.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. FermanaghWoulfe: the Maguire branch was of Fermanagh; Matheson's principal county in 1890.[1][3]
Co. TyroneMatheson's other principal county in 1890.[3]

Other spellings

MacCaffrey · MacCaffray · MacCaffery · MacGaffrey · Caffrey · Caffery[1]

The McCaffrey coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the McCaffrey 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.

McCaffrey surname: questions

What does the surname McCaffrey mean?

Woulfe gives it as Mac Gafraidh, 'son of Godfrey', also written Mac Gofradha and Mac Cafraidh.[1][2]

Where in Ireland is McCaffrey from?

Woulfe says the name is that of a branch of the Maguires of Fermanagh, now common in Ulster. In 1890, Matheson names Fermanagh and Tyrone as the counties in which principally found.[1][3]

Is McCaffrey the same as Caffrey?

Woulfe prints MacCaffrey, Caffrey and Caffery together among the forms of Mac Gafraidh.[1]

Is McCaffrey the same name as Mac Eachmharcaigh?

Woulfe says Mac Gafraidh is to be distinguished from Mac Eachmharcaigh, which is sometimes similarly anglicised.[1]

Sources

  1. Mac Gafraidh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macg/mac-gafraidh.php
  2. Mac Gofradha, Mac Gofraidh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macg/mac-gofradha-mac-gofraidh.php
  3. McCaffrey — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/mccaffrey.php
  4. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1326 and 1328 (part 16) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005C/text016.html
  5. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1383 (part 2) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text002.html
  6. Annals of the Four Masters (trans. John O'Donovan), 1495 (part 13) — CELT edition, CELT, University College Cork. celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005D/text013.html

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