Origin of the surname Mccaffrey

This is an Irish sept surname found in the spellings of MacCaffrey, MacCaffery and MacCafferky, and in the "Mc" short forms. It is claimed that the nameholders form part of the famous Clan MacGuires of Fermanagh, and an original measure of their importance being the original naming of the town of Ballymacaffry, in County Tyrone after them. The name is also widely found without the "Mac" prefix, most of these name holders being recorded in counties Meath and Cavan. The origin of the name is from the Gaelic "Mac Gafraidh" which translates as the "Son of Godfrey", and it is presumed that the first name holders were followers of the 6th century Saint Godfrey.

The name has also been recorded in the phonetically correct "Mac Goffrey", although this is now rare. Early recordings of the name are sparse, but this is mainly because of the destruction of almost all Irelands early registers by the IRA in 1922, when they occupied the Public Records Office in Dublin, and wantonly destroyed the contents, to no loss to the English, but to the total loss of Ireland's heritage. Examples of the surname recording taken from surviving registers include Frank MacCaffrey, who was recorded as a witness at Virginia, County Cavan, on March 1st 1802, and John McCaffery aged 23, and Eliza, aged 20, who were "Famine Emigrants". They left Ireland, probably from Belfast Lough, on the ship "Atlas of Liverpool", on May 11th 1846, bound for New York. A later recording is that of Patrick McCaffery who was baptised at Scotstown, County Monaghan on February 10th 1864. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hugh MacCaffrey, which was dated 1659, recorded in "Petty's" hearth tax register of Ireland, during the reign of Richard Cromwell, known as "The Lord Protector", 1658 - 1659. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Mccaffrey. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of mccaffrey leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname mccaffrey is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname mccaffrey, and in addition to the original locations of mccaffrey, we can find out where people with the surname mccaffrey can currently be found. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of mccaffrey.

The surname Mccaffrey around the world

There is a considerable probability that mccaffrey has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where mccaffrey is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname mccaffrey provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname mccaffrey has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Mccaffrey

The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named mccaffrey are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname mccaffrey, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of mccaffrey developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname mccaffrey are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname mccaffrey.

It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of mccaffrey could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about mccaffrey and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname mccaffrey or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of mccaffrey.

Notable Figures Named Mccaffrey

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname mccaffrey, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname mccaffrey were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like mccaffrey can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. If you or someone you know bears the surname mccaffrey, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname mccaffrey who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Mccaffrey and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname mccaffrey, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of mccaffrey are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname mccaffrey, as well as many other surnames. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of mccaffrey.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of mccaffrey, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Mccaffrey