Surname McGuffee - Meaning and Origin
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McGuffee: What does the surname McGuffee mean?
The last name McGuffee is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Mac Gaibhidh meaning “son of the smith.” Smiths were an important part of agricultural societies. They repaired farm equipment, repaired and crafted tools, and forged metal parts used in farming. Smiths also created goods such as horseshoes, nails, bolts, horseshoes, and armor for warring armies.
The presence of the McGuffee surname in Ireland can be traced back to 1655 in the province of Ulster. It is believed that their ancestors migrated from Scotland in the 16th century during the great Scottish migrations.
Today, individuals with the last name McGuffee are found across the United Kingdom, Ireland, North America, and other parts of the world. The McGuffee surname is particularly common in Scotland, where it was originally found in Aberdeenshire and Caithness.
The McGuffee surname stands for strength, integrity, and loyalty and signifies the ancestors’ noble heritage and profession as a smith. The origin of this important last name is a reminder of those who’ve gone before and the legacy passed down through the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGuffee: Where does the name McGuffee come from?
The last name McGuffee is not particularly common today. According to the Ancestry.com database, the name McGuffee appears most frequently in the United States, particularly on the East Coast. It is also found in Canada, especially in Ontario and British Columbia. Further afield, some occurrences of the name can also be found in England and Scotland.
In the United States, the highest concentration of McGuffees can be found in the states of Florida and New York. The name is quite rare outside of those two states. Other states, including California, Colorado, Arkansas, Virginia, Georgia, and Massachusetts, all have relatively small numbers of McGuffees.
The name is derived from the Irish name Mag Flaithe, which translates to "family of the hero" – an indication that the name originally had a proud, powerful meaning. It is believed to be the anglicized version of the Gaelic McGuff. It is unknown exactly how or why the name originated, but it is possible that it was either the surname of a local land owner or a family name of a clan prominent in the area.
Overall, the name McGuffee is not particularly common today, but it can be found predominantly in the United States, Canada, England and Scotland. It is unclear how it originated, but it is likely to have been the surname of a local land owner or of a clan prominent in the area.
Variations of the surname McGuffee
The surname McGuffee is of Irish origin, and it is said to have several variants, spellings and related surnames. Variants of McGuffee include MacGuffee and McGuffey. Other common spellings are MacGuffy, McGooffey, MacGouffey, and McGuffy.
McGuffee is also related to surnames such as Gaffey, Gaffe, Gaffy, Gaff, Guffey,McCuffey, McGuf,Gaffy, and Guffy. These surnames likely originated from an old Irish Gaelic clan name “MacCuithbe”, which translated to “son of Hugh”.
There are also some less common variants of McGuffee, such as MacGiffe, Magiyffey, Megooffey, and MacGuffer. The last two spellings may be forms of McGuffy, which is another variation of the surname.
The variations and surnames related to McGuffee all come from the same Irish root. The different spellings and variants likely derived from various ways the name has been documented over time. Different spellings also likely arose from differing dialects of Irish Gaelic spoken in different areas of Ireland.
McGuffee is not the only variant and spelling of this surname. There are many other Irish surnames that are variations and spellings of the same origin, such as Gaffney, Gaffin, Gafford, and Gaffigan. These names all come from the same root name, which was “MacCuithbe”.
Famous people with the name McGuffee
- Chelsea McGuffee: American fashion designer, influencer, and author
- Tom McGuffee: American singer-songwriter
- Kermit McGuffee: American painter and mixed media artist
- Garry McGuffee: American country music singer-songwriter
- Rosemary McGuffee: American actress
- Jamie McGuffee: American musician
- John Mc Guffee: American actor and director
- David McGuffee: American tennis player
- Brenda McGuffee: American songwriter and musician
- Finley McGuffee: American illustrator and musician