Surname Gaffeny - Meaning and Origin
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Gaffeny: What does the surname Gaffeny mean?
The last name Gaffeny is of Irish descent and derives from the Irish surname Ó Gafraidh which is often Anglicized as Gaffey. The Ó Gafraidh clan were an historically important ruling family in the province of Ulster, with their seat located in present day County Donegal in the north west of Ireland.
The Ó Gafraidh clan are said to be descended from a Clan Cian, which is associated with the High Kings of Ireland in the province of Connacht. The surname translates as “descendant of Gafra”, with Gafra itself believed to be derived from a Norse word meaning “terror”.
The surname is recorded in the Geographical Accounts of Ireland as both a personal and family name. In the 17th century, some Ó Gafraigh families were relatively prosperous landowners, others were members of the merchant class, and still others were tenant farmers. The surname Gaffeny is found mainly in Ulster and is quite uncommon elsewhere in Ireland.
Today, Gaffeny is still found in County Donegal where it is primarily located near Kilmacrenan, Inishowen, and Glencolmcille. This surname is also fairly common in Northern Ireland and England, as members of the Ó Gafraigh family emigrated to those areas during the 19th century due to political and religious conflicts occurring in Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisGaffeny: Where does the name Gaffeny come from?
The last name Gaffeny can be found in many countries around the world today. It is believed to have originated in Ireland, and as a result can still be found in parts of the UK, United States and Canada. It is also common in several countries in Europe, including Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Switzerland.
In the United States, Gaffeny is most common in states such as New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Illinois. In Canada, the name can be found in many provinces such as Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
The name itself does not have a particularly traditional meaning as it is believed to be a result of an adaptation of an Irish surname from the Gaelic language. The most common translation of the name is “son of a blacksmith or metalworker”.
While the last name is not a popular choice today, it still has a strong presence in many countries. This can be seen through records of baptisms, marriages, birth records, and other genealogical records found in locations where the name Gaffeny is present.
Overall, the last name Gaffeny can be found in many countries around the world, and while it may not be particularly popular, it has a strong presence in many locations.
Variations of the surname Gaffeny
The surname Gaffeny is derived from the Irish name, Mac Gafney, which translates to "son of the smith". This name then evolved over time into several different variants, spellings, and surnames all with the same origin. Common variants and spellings in modern usage include MacGaffney, McGaffney, Gaffney, Gaffeney, Gaffinnie, Gaffinney, Gaffeney, MacGaffin, and McGiffin.
The original name, Mac Gafney, most likely stemmed from the Irish name, MacGabhann, meaning "son of the smith". As time elapsed, occupancy of the family's territory in County Sligo changed and the name Anglicized over generations from MacGafney to MacGaffney to McGaffey and finally Gaffeny.
Gaffney is considered the most popular and widely used variant of the Mac Gafney surname. It is found predominantly in the United States, especially in countries such as Ireland, Australia, and Canada. The spelling Gaffeney is also common, but it is rarely used in the United States. It is mainly found in England and Scotland.
MacGaffin is another common variant of the name. It is most often found in Ireland, but can also be found in Scotland and the United States. It is primarily found in the state of Virginia. McGiffin is a variant of the surname that is commonly found in Scotland but is also found in the United States.
Gaffinnie can also be found in parts of the United States, particularly in the Midwest and Southwest. It is derived from the Irish variant Gaffinney. Gaffinney is quite rare and is mainly found in Ireland.
In conclusion, all of these variants and spellings of the surname Gaffeny can be traced back to the same original surname, which is MacGafney.
Famous people with the name Gaffeny
- Andy Gaffney: American football player and coach
- Bob Gaffeny: former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Bill Gaffeny: American politician
- Andrea Gaffney: professional golfer
- Brody Gaffeny: American soccer player
- Kevin Gaffeny: professional hockey player
- Phyllis Gaffeny: American artist
- LJ Gaffeny: professional American football player
- Paul Gaffeny: Irish actor
- Steve Gaffeny: professional American football player
- Martin Gaffeny: professional rugby player
- Troy Gaffeny: professional poker player
- Jesus Gaffeny: former Cuban Olympic track and field athlete
- Paula Gaffeny: American actress and singer
- Paul Gaffeny: American classical guitarist and composer
- Mark Gaffeny: American songwriter and musician
- Stephen Gaffeny: former Irish soldier and politician
- Jessica Gaffeny: American novelist and poet
- Emmet Gaffeny: Irish singer and musician
- Katherine Gaffeny: American illustrator and sculptor