Surname McCaffrey - Meaning and Origin
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Tracing Back the McCaffrey Lineage: A DNA Test Journey
Having always identified as a part of the traditional Irish McCaffrey family, an unexpected revelation, courtesy of a DNA test through iGENEA, presented a wider and richer historical lineage. The experience was as enlightening as it was transformative, reshaping my perceptions about my identity and place in the world.
U. McCaffrey
read moreMcCaffrey: What does the surname McCaffrey mean?
The surname McCaffrey is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Eachmharcaigh," which means "son of Eachmarcach." The personal name Eachmarcach means "horse rider" in Gaelic, therefore the surname can be understood as "son of the horse rider." This could suggest that the original bearers of this name were involved in horse riding, horse breeding, or cavalry-related activities. Like many Irish surnames, the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" signifies "son of," revealing a direct line of descent from the original bearer of the name. It's also important to note that spelling variations are common in Irish surnames due to the translation from the original Gaelic to English. Variations of McCaffrey include MacCaffrey, MacCafferty, and MacAffrey, among others.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCaffrey: Where does the name McCaffrey come from?
The surname McCaffrey is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gafra," which means "son of the dwarf." The surname first surfaced in County Fermanagh, located in Northern Ireland, where the McCaffreys held a family seat as a sept of the Maguire clan.
Today, the surname McCaffrey is still commonly found in Northern Ireland, especially in County Fermanagh. It has also spread to other parts of Ireland and to many English-speaking countries due to Irish emigration, primarily due to the Great Famine of the 1840s. As of now, the name is common in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
The McCaffrey surname remains well represented in professional fields as well, from literature and music to sports. It is associated with famed figures like American author Anne McCaffrey and American football player Christian McCaffrey. Despite its worldwide spread, the surname McCaffrey carries a solid Irish identity, rooted deeply in Northern Ireland's history and heritage.
Variations of the surname McCaffrey
The surname McCaffrey has various variants and spellings. The name itself originates from the Gaelic name "Mac Gafraidh" which means "son of Godfrey." Other spellings are often seen due to the English phonetic translations of the original Irish Gaelic spelling over the years. Therefore, McCaffrey can often be presented as McCaffery, MacCaffery, MacCaffrey, McCaffre, McCaffrie, and McCafry.
Furthermore, the surname McCaffrey also has variations such as MacAffery, MacAffrey, MacEffery, MacEffrey, and McAfree.
When the Mc or Mac prefix, which signifies "son of," is removed from the surname, further variants such as Affery, Affrey, Effery, and Effrey can also be found.
Another variation of the surname McCaffrey is McCaverly, which originates from a different Gaelic name "Mac Gafraigh" but has been Anglicized to a form similar to McCaffrey.
It is important to note that surnames can change considerably over generations, and identifying the exact origin of a name can sometimes be challenging given these modifications.
Famous people with the name McCaffrey
- Anne McCaffrey: A renowned science fiction author known for her "Dragonriders of Pern" series.
- Todd McCaffrey: Son of Anne McCaffrey, Todd is also a prominent science fiction author who has contributed to his mother's "Dragonriders of Pern" series.
- Christian McCaffrey: A professional American football player in the National Football League (NFL), currently a running back for the Carolina Panthers.
- Dylan McCaffrey: Brother of Christian McCaffrey and a college football quarterback.
- Ed McCaffrey: Father of Christian and Dylan, Ed is a former NFL player who won three Super Bowls during his career.
- Lisa McCaffrey: Wife of Ed and mother of Christian and Dylan, Lisa was a soccer player at Stanford University.
- Max McCaffrey: Another son of Ed and Lisa, Max is a former NFL wide receiver.
- Mitchel McCaffrey: An innovative Canadian entrepreneur and technology consultant.
- Ciaran McCaffrey: An actor best known for his role in the TV series, The Loch.
- Meghan McCaffrey: A podcast host and producer in the wellness and personal development space.