Surname Gaffny - Meaning and Origin

Gaffny: What does the surname Gaffny mean?

The last name Gaffny is an Irish name which is derived from the Gaelic name ‘Ó Gadhmaill’. This name is anglicised to Gaffny, Gaffney, Gafney, or Gavney and can be found throughout Ireland – mainly in counties Cork and Kerry.

This surname is derived from the Irish Gaelic name ‘Ó Gadhmaill’ which translates to ‘descendant of Gadhmaill’. The given name Gadhmaill was thought to be composed from the elements ‘gad’ or ‘goíd’ meaning ‘a spear’ and ‘maol’ a nickname meaning ‘a tonsured one’. The original bearer of the surname thus could have been a follower or retainer of a ancient ruler or nobleman known as a ‘tonsured one’.

The Gaffny surname is most commonly found in the Southern part of Ireland which is where Irish Gaelic culture and surnames are still strong today. Examples of Irish Gaelic names are still common in the area today.

In addition to being found in the Southern part of Ireland, the Gaffny surname can also be found in Scotland and amongst Irish emigrants who have settled in countries across the world.

The Irish surname Gaffny is a proud reminder of Irish culture and history. The bearer of this surname should take pride in its origins and the legacy of their ancestors.

Gaffny: Where does the name Gaffny come from?

The last name Gaffny is primarily found in the United States. According to reporting from Forebears, the name Gaffny is most common in Massachusetts, New York, and California. Approximately 41 Americans are known to have the last name Gaffny as of 2020. It is important to note, however, that the population reporting their last name to be Gaffny is not completely exclusive. Some may have a variation of the name, such as Gaffeney, Gaffin, Gaffney, Gaff, Giffney, and Giffin.

Other countries, including Canada, Ireland, and Australia, have reported a few people with the last name Gaffny living there. The name Gaffny is also listed in the International Genealogical Index for England and France.

The origin of the last name Gaffny is difficult to trace as it is an uncommon name. It is possible that the name has evolved from a variation of Gallagher, which is an Irish surname. According to The Internet Surname Database, Gaffney is a surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Ó Gafaighe, which means "foreign help” or “foreign aid." It is also possible that the name could have originated in England, where the name Giffin or Giffney comes from.

Variations of the surname Gaffny

The surname Gaffny is an Irish name derived from the Irish language, Gaeilge. It can have several variant spellings and surnames of the same origin.

Names which are derived from the surname Gaffny include: Gaffney, Gafney, Gaffna, Gafan, Gaffny, Gaverie, and Gaffny. Gaffney and Gaffna are among the more common variants of the surname.

Gaffney, Gafney and Gaverie are all derived from the Irish surname, MacGearailt, which is an Anglicization of the Irish language name, MacGearnaigh. Throughout history, the name has been Anglicized in various ways, resulting in its variant forms.

Gafan and Gaffny are both derived from the Irish language name, Mac an Ghabha, also an Anglicization of the name. This Irish name originated in the Connacht Province of Ireland, primarily in the County Mayo area.

Although all of the variants of the surname Gaffny share the same origin, they do have variations in spellings, making them unique to the Irish language. For example, Gaffney, Gafney and Gaverie are derived from the same source but have distinct spelling variations. Additionally, Gafan and Gaffny are derived from a separate Irish language name, have unique spellings that set them apart from the other variants.

Famous people with the name Gaffny

• Sean Gaffney: American comic book author, most notably for the manga series Aries.
• Pat Gaffney: British peace activist and former general secretary of Pax Christi.
• Graham Gaffney: Irish hurler, senior since 1997.
• Daniel Gaffney: British racing driver.
• Emily Gaffney: U.S. musician, singer and songwriter.
• Tim Gaffney: U.S. racquetball player.
• Noelle Gaffney: British wildlife photographer.
• Brian Gaffney: American sportswriter.
• Amory Gaffney: English composer and vocalist.
• Jack Gaffney: American artist best known for his comic book work.
• Shaun Gaffney: Australian political figure and former member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.
• Mervyn Gaffney: British former professional footballer.
• Patrick Gaffney: Australian actor best known for his role in the television soap opera Neighbours.
• Perry Gaffney: U.S. astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station.
• Timothy Gaffney: American author, lecturer, radio host, and newspaper columnist.

Other surnames

Gaffney