| ![Show Contents]() Mehaffy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland In the Scottish/English Borderlands, the Strathclyde Britons were the first to use the name Mehaffy. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name Debshithe, which means the black man of peace. Early Origins of the Mehaffy familyThe surname Mehaffy was first found in Wigtown (Gaelic: Siorrachd Bhaile na h-Uige), formerly a county in southwestern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, where they held a family seat from very early times. This distinguished Clan was originally known as the Clan MacKilhaffy and held a family seat at Craig Caffe in the parish of Inch. Early History of the Mehaffy familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mehaffy research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1320 and 1540 are included under the topic Early Mehaffy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Mehaffy Spelling VariationsIn Medieval times, spelling and translation were not nearly so highly developed as today. They were generally carried out according to the sound and intuition of the bearer. For that reason spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Mehaffy has been spelled Mahaffy, Mehaffy, MacHaffie, Mahaffie, McHaffie, MacHaffy, McHaffy, MacGilhaffie, McGilhaffie, MacGilhaffy, McGilhaffy, MacKilhaffy, McKilhaffy, MacKilhaffie, McKilhaffie, MacIlhaffie, McIlhaffie, MacIlhaffy, McIlhaffy, MacCaffee, McCaffee, MacCaffie, McCaffie, McCaffy, MacCaffy, Milhaffie, Milhaffy, Mahalfie, Mahalfy and many more. Early Notables of the Mehaffy familyMore information is included under the topic Early Mehaffy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Mehaffy family to Ireland
Some of the Mehaffy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Mehaffy familyUnrest, poverty, and persecution caused thousands to look for opportunity and freedom in the North American colonies. The crossing was long, overcrowded, and unsanitary, though, and came only at great expense. Many Strathclyde families settled on the east coast of North America in communities that would form the backbone of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. The American War of Independence caused those who remained loyal to England to move north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, Strathclyde and other Scottish families across North America began to recover their collective heritage through highland games and Clan societies. Among them: Martin and Martha Mahaffy and their daughter Mary who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767; Mary Mahaffy arrived in New York state in 1847.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Mehaffy (post 1700) | + |
- Tom Miller Mehaffy (1859-1944), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Benton, Arkansas, 1888-89; Member of Arkansas State House of Representatives, 1889-91; Member of Arkansas State Senate, 1892-96 1
- Pat Mehaffy, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arkansas, 1956, 1960 1
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