Surname McCaffery - Meaning and Origin

McCaffery: What does the surname McCaffery mean?

McCaffery is a surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Eachmharcaigh", which literally translates to "son of Eachmarcach". The name "Eachmarcach" itself is composed of two parts: "each" meaning horse and "marcach" meaning rider. Therefore, the surname McCaffery could be interpreted to mean "son of the horse rider". This might indicate that the original bearers of the name were possibly part of a family known for their skill in horse riding or cavalry. Like many other surnames, McCaffery went through several spelling variations throughout history, such as MacCaffery, MacCafferty, MacCaffrey, and others. Despite these changes, the fundamental meaning of the surname remained the same. It is worth noting that interpretations can vary based on regional dialects and historical context.

McCaffery: Where does the name McCaffery come from?

The last name McCaffery is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Somhairle, which means 'son of Somhairle', with Somhairle being a personal name translating to 'summer traveler'. This name is popular in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht in Ireland, particularly in the county of Fermanagh. The McCafferys were recognized as lords of the region of Fermanagh in the 12th century.

In the modern world, the name McCaffery is most common in English-speaking countries, primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. There are also a substantial number of McCafferys in Australia, Canada, and, of course, Ireland. Due to the historical emigration patterns, particularly during the time of the Great Famine in the mid-19th century, many Irish families like the McCafferys dispersed to various parts of the world, carrying their Irish surnames with them. As a result, the surname can be found in various parts of the globe today.

Variations of the surname McCaffery

The surname McCaffery is of Irish origin and numerous variations exist due to regional differences in dialect, anglicization, and varying spelling conventions over time. The surname is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Eachmharcaigh," meaning "son of Eachmharcach."

Popular spellings or variations of McCaffery include: McCaffrey, MacCaffrey, MacCaffery, Mccafferty, Mccaffrey, McAfferty, McCafferly, McCaffary, McCofferty, MacCafferty, McCaffee, McCaffey and MacCaffery.

Alternate spellings or variations also include: McCaffree, MacAfferty, McAffrey, and McCaffry, among others. Due to phonetic spellings, there might also be several other variations not listed here.

In some cases, the 'Mc' or 'Mac' prefix, which denotes 'son of', is sometimes dropped or varied, leading to additional versions of the surname like Caffery or Caffrey.

All these spellings and variations refer to the same origin and carry similar cultural meaning. Regardless of the variant, all versions of the surname McCaffery share a common Irish lineage and heritage.

Famous people with the name McCaffery

• Brian McCaffery: American former football and basketball player and collegiate athletics administrator.
• Sean McCaffery: Major League Soccer correspondent for Sirius XM Radio and a founding member of the American Soccer Show on Sirius XM.
• Pat McCaffery: Former American basketball coach and administrator in the NCAA and NBA.
• Maeve McCaffery: Irish professional dancer and choreographer.
• Kevin McCaffery: Professional football player from London, UK.
• Caitlin McCaffery: Global Brand Manager for the Nike Foundation.
• Paul McCaffery: Artistic Director of ArtLinks, an intergenerational arts organization based in Philadelphia.
• Mike McCaffery: American football coach and retired player for the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants.
• Tom McCaffery: Professional cyclist and member of the U.S. National Team.
• Robert McCaffery: Australian rules footballer and umpire in the Victorian Football League.

Other surnames

McCafferty