Show ContentsCaffee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname is one of the native Irish surnames that come from the Irish Gaelic language. The original Gaelic form of the name Caffee is "Mac Eachaidh," from the personal name Eachaidh, which is Anglicized as Aghy. It is cognate with Eochaigh, which is Anglicized as the once-common Christian name Oghy.

Early Origins of the Caffee family

The surname Caffee was first found in the county of Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Caffee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Caffee research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Caffee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Caffee Spelling Variations

Just like the English language, the Gaelic language of Ireland was not standardized in the Middle Ages. Therefore, one's name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origins of the Caffee family name include Caughey, McCaughey, McGaughey, Coffee, Coffey, Coffy, O'Coffey, O'Coffy, Mulcahy, McGahey and many more.

Early Notables of the Caffee family

More information is included under the topic Early Caffee Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Caffee Ranking

In the United States, the name Caffee is the 13,838th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Caffee family

Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Caffee name: John Caughey who settled in New York in 1845; James Coffe who settled in Boston in 1754; Bridget Coffee settled in Boston in 1849; John Coffee settled in Virginia in 1637.


Contemporary Notables of the name Caffee (post 1700) +

  • Brigadier-General Homer Caffee Brown (1893-1950), American Commanding General Special Troops, US Army Special Operations Command (1945-1946) 2


The Caffee Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Non providentia sed victoria
Motto Translation: No victory without foresight


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Homer Brown. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Brown/Homer_Caffee/USA.html


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