Mahaffie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The chronicles of the Mahaffie family indicate that the name was first used by the Strathclyde Britons of the Scottish/English Borderlands. Mahaffie is derived from the Gaelic personal name Debshithe, which means the black man of peace.

Early Origins of the Mahaffie family

The surname Mahaffie 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 Mahaffie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mahaffie research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1320 and 1540 are included under the topic Early Mahaffie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mahaffie Spelling Variations

The many spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years Mahaffie 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 Mahaffie family

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

Migration of the Mahaffie family to Ireland

Some of the Mahaffie 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 Mahaffie family

To escape the uncertainties and discrimination faced in Scotland, many decided to head out for North America. Once they arrived, many Scots fought with relish in the American War of Independence; some went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many ancestors of these Scots have recovered their lost national heritage in the 20th century through Clan organizations and Scottish historical societies. Among the settlers to North America were: 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.