Surname Mac Cabe - Meaning and Origin
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Mac Cabe: What does the surname Mac Cabe mean?
The surname Mac Cabe is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic term "Mac Cába," which means "son of Cába." The element "Cába" is believed to refer to a distinctive feature or occupation, but its exact meaning is uncertain. Some sources suggest that it could mean "cape" or "a person who rents out horses." The surname was first found in Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh), the former Kingdom of Osraige, located in Southeastern Ireland in the province of Leinster, where the Mac Cabe family held a family seat from ancient times. They also branched into the northern province of Ulster, specifically in County Cavan. In the Middle Ages, the family was well-known as mercenaries, particularly active for their time in Ireland, Scotland, and Medieval Europe's Baltic region. Like many Irish families, Mac Cabes often modified their surname to Cabe, McCabe, and MacAbe, influenced by English spelling conventions, during periods of English reign in Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMac Cabe: Where does the name Mac Cabe come from?
The surname Mac Cabe originates from Ireland and it is an anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Cába" meaning "son of Cába." The name Cába itself is believed to be a nickname or personal name of uncertain origin. The Mac Cabes were known to be a gallowglass family (a class of elite mercenary warriors who were principally members of the Norse-Gaelic clans), originally from Scotland, who came to Ireland in the 14th Century at the invitation of the O'Reillys, and were a powerful force in the east of Co. Cavan where they had large landholdings.
Today, the use of the surname Mac Cabe or its variations (McCabe, MacCabe) is widespread, but is still most commonly found in Ireland, especially in County Monaghan and County Cavan. The name also migrated to North America and Australia due to Irish emigration during the 19th century's Great Famine, so clusters of Mac Cabes can be found in these regions as well.
Variations of the surname Mac Cabe
The surname Mac Cabe is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic patronymic name "Mac Cába" which translates to "son of Cába". Cába is believed to be derived from a biblical term, possibly meaning a "cabin boy".
The anglicization of Irish patronymic names has resulted in a wide array of spelling variants for the name Mac Cabe through generations. Some of these include MacCabe, McCabe, Mc Cabe, McCaba, and MacCab.
In Ireland, most of these different spellings emerged due to the way Gaelic was converted into the English language, as well as how names were recorded during the 19th and 20th centuries census records. For example, a family that spelled it as MacCabe in one census might have it recorded as McCabe in another, simply based on the census taker’s interpretation.
Regional dialects also influenced variants of the surname. The surname Mac Cabe is prevalent in counties Cavan and Monaghan in the province of Ulster. Where as it largely appears as McCabe in other parts of Ireland and around the world. The modern preference has been for the simpler form, McCabe. Reverting to the older MacCabe version has become an infrequent practice mostly for personal and historical reasons.
Famous people with the name Mac Cabe
- James Mac Cabe: A renowned Irish silversmith known for his contribution to watchmaking.
- Amanda Mac Cabe: An American author known for her historical romance novels.
- Paul Mac Cabe: Executive Vice President of Business Strategy and Finance for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx.
- Frank Mac Cabe: An Irish politician who served as a senator in the Irish Free State Senate.
- Bethany Mac Cabe: An American-British fashion model who has appeared in several international magazines and has walked the runway for various fashion brands.
- Sonia Mac Cabe: A former professional squash player from Ireland who had a successful career in the 80s and 90s.
- Peter Mac Cabe: An Irish Gaelic footballer who played for Cavan in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
- Nicola Mac Cabe: An actress known for appearing in "The Bill," a popular British police procedural television series.
- Martin Mac Cabe: A successful Irish businessman and the CEO of Argento, one of the UK and Ireland's leading fast-fashion jewellery retailers.
- Jack Mac Cabe: A comedian often featured on the Irish television show "The Republic of Telly".