Surname Teaffe - Meaning and Origin

Teaffe: What does the surname Teaffe mean?

The last name Teaffe is an Irish surname that originated with the Gaelic (old Irish language) name O'Tadhg which means "descendant of Tadhg". It comes from the given name Tadhg, which is a diminutive of Tadgh, meaning “poet” or “philosopher”. It is possible that the name has been corrupted over time to sound more like a modern English name.

The Teaffe surname is most common in the province of Ulster in the north of Ireland, which makes sense as the majority of Irish names originate in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht which were heavily populated by the Irish Gaelic-speaking population before the English colonized the island in the Middle Ages.

The Teaffe family is believed to have been one of the “Tribes of Galway”, a medieval Gaelic-Irish dynasty that often clashed with the British occupiers and participated in significant struggles for Irish independence from the 13th to the 19th centuries.

The Teaffe surname is still fairly uncommon today, but it has been adopted by people all over the world as their ancestors have left Ireland in search of a better life. The name still carries the reverence and pride associated with the Teaffe history and heritage as they struggle to keep their culture alive and well.

Teaffe: Where does the name Teaffe come from?

The surname Teaffe is most closely associated with the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is particularly common in the Counties of Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal in Ireland. It is also to be found in the USA in large Irish-American communities such as Boston, and in the UK in particular large Irish communities in London, Liverpool and Manchester.

The origin of the surname Teaffe is derived from the Irish Ua Tadhgáin or O'Tadhgáin. It is derived from the first name Tadhg which is of uncertain origin but may possibly derive from the old Celtic name Tighearnach meaning "lord". Historically, the Teaffe family held a hereditary chieftaincy with its territory based in the Dooish district of County Cavan in the early 14th century.

Due to its history and close associations, the surname Teaffe is still very common throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland. In the last census taken in Northern Ireland, Teaffe was amongst the top sixty surnames in the country. There is also evidence of the name growing in popularity in the USA and the UK due to the strong Irish diaspora movement of the 20th century.

Variations of the surname Teaffe

The surname Teaffe is an anglicized version of various similar Irish and Scots-Gaelic surnames. It is primarily an Anglicized version of the south Ulster Irish surname Ó Táafá or Mac Táafá, from the Irish root word "táfad," meaning "beloved."

Variants of Teaffe include Taaff, Taffe, Taaft, Taaf, Taff, Taf, Tafoe, MacTaff, MacTaffe, and MacTaaft.

In Ireland, the Irish surname O Tuathail is an alternate form of Ó Táafá. It is from the Irish root word “tuathal,” meaning “auspicious” or “generous.”

In the Scottish Highlands, MacTaf or MacTafoe is another anglicized version of the original Gaelic surname. The people of the Highlands have different variations of the surname, including MacTaffer, MacTafferty, or MacTaffey.

In other countries, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, people of Scots-Irish descent have anglicized the original Gaelic spelling and various other spelling variants. Examples include Teaf, Tahff, Tayff, Teeff, Teef, Tef, Teff, Taffey, Taffe, Taft, Tifft, Tiffton, Tifftoe.

The Teaffe surname originated in south Ulster, Ireland and is shared by those of Ulster Scots descent in other countries across the world. It is an example of how many Irish surnames have been anglicized with variations in spelling.

Famous people with the name Teaffe

• Gareth Te'o: Actor
• Jamie Teeaf: Musician
• Chris Teaffe: Yearbook Editor
• Phil Teaff: College Football Coach
• Johnny Teaff: Boxer
• Phil Teaff Jr.: General Manager of the Houston Texans
• Helen Teaffe: Voice Actress
• Chuck Teaffe: Football Player
• Cris Teaffe: Surfer
• Dave Teaffe: Golf Course Designer
• Steve Teaffe: Cartoonist
• Wendy Teaffe: Organic Gardening Advocate
• Laura Teaffe: Political Activist
• Peter Teaffe: Web Developer
• Paul Teaffe: Boat Builder
• Terry Teaffe: Entrepreneur
• Carly Teaff: Professional Speaker
• Daniel Teaff: Environmental Scientist
• Kathy Teaffe: Environmental Artist
• Tim Teaff: Professional Bicycle Racer

Other surnames

Teaff