Surname Gafney - Meaning and Origin
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Gafney: What does the surname Gafney mean?
The last name Gafney is of Irish origin, specifically originating from County Mayo. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic Ó Gamhna, which is the Anglicized version of the surname. The meaning of the name is ‘son of Gamhain’, which is a given name meaning ‘hairy’ or ‘manly’.
Gafney is believed to be the 12th most common Gaelic Irish surname. Though originally from Mayo, the surname is now primarily found within Northern Ireland and parts of the United States, particularly in Massachusetts, where many of the earliest settlers of the name Gafney came from.
The Gafney family was known for its contributions in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, as well as the American Revolution, in which many family members participated. Many Gafneys have been leaders in Irish politics, along with some members of the family playing an integral part in the American continue fight for independence and rights.
Today, Gafney is a proudly celebrated surname, held by many individuals from all walks of life. While some members of the Gafney family may still reside in counties in Ireland, the name has become a very popular and distinct last name. The generations of courage, valor, and contribution to the fight for freedom will also live on in the lasting legacy of the Gafney surname.
Order DNA origin analysisGafney: Where does the name Gafney come from?
The last name Gafney is a very old and distinguished surname originating from Ireland. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic name O'Geibheannaigh, meaning "descendant of a fierce one" and likely came from a nickname for the ancestor of the family. Today, the name Gafney is most commonly found in the United States. It is particularly popular in the Northeastern part of the country, such as New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The largest concentration of people with the last name Gafney in the US is in Massachusetts. It is also common in the state of Florida. The surname is also found in many areas of Ireland. Additionally, there are significant populations of Gafney in Canada, England, Scotland, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also common in other English speaking countries. The last name Gafney is not an extremely common one, but it does enjoy a widespread presence in many countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Gafney
Gafney is a surname commonly found in countries like the United States, Canada, England, and Ireland. The spelling of the name can vary and is commonly seen in spellings such as Gaffney, Gaughney, Gavney, and Gafeney.
The origin of the name is thought to have derived from Gaelic, with the prefix "Mac" meaning "son of". In Gaelic, the prefix is sometimes found attached to the name "Geoffrey" or "Godfrey". Therefore, the name translates to "son of Geoffrey" or "son of Godfrey".
Most commonly, Gafney has been interchanged with Gaffney, and is thought to be the most popular spelling of the name. Gaffney was often recorded in records such as census information from the early 19th century as Gaghan, Gaffney, Gaughan, and similar variations.
Gavney is another variant of the Gafney spelling and is thought to originate from the Irish form of the Gaelic rí, meaning "king". It can also be found spelled as Gavnie and Gawney.
Gafeney is another spelling of the surname thought to have been a corruption of the Irish surname Ó Gallchobhair which translates to "son of Geoffrey".
Gaffney, Gaughney, Gavney, and Gafeney are other variants of the surname Gafney which have their roots in Gaelic culture and mean "son of Geoffrey" or "son of Godfrey".
Famous people with the name Gafney
- Michele Gafney, Administrator of the NCAA Football Rules Committee
- Anita Gafney, American Catholic laywoman and an international activist forwomen’s rights
- Jonathan Gafney, Award-winning filmmaker
- Sulki Gafney, Award-winning South Korean actress
- Molly Gafney, American professional baseball player
- Charles Gafney, Brigadier General in the United States Air Force
- Carter Gafney, American musician and actor
- Peter Gafney, Wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter
- Betsy Gafney, Director of Development at Southern Poverty Law Center
- Sydney Gafney, American television and radio personality