| ![Show Contents]() McGahy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland The surname is one of the native Irish surnames that come from the Irish Gaelic language. The original Gaelic form of the name McGahy 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 McGahy familyThe surname McGahy 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 McGahy familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGahy research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McGahy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McGahy Spelling VariationsThe Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames were not rigidly fixed by this period. The following variations for the name McGahy were encountered in the archives: Caughey, McCaughey, McGaughey, Coffee, Coffey, Coffy, O'Coffey, O'Coffy, Mulcahy, McGahey and many more. Early Notables of the McGahy familyMore information is included under the topic Early McGahy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 McGahy migration to the United States | + |
Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century. For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common. Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America. Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived, were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name McGahy:
McGahy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Robert McGahy, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1806 1
- Alexander McGahy, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1807 1
McGahy Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Thomas Alexander McGahy, aged 35, who landed in America, in 1919
- Thomas A. McGahy, aged 34, who settled in America, in 1919
- James H. McGahy, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Guernsey, CH. Islands, in 1920
| Contemporary Notables of the name McGahy (post 1700) | + |
- David Victor McGahy, Australian recipient of the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours for service to the communities of Arthurs Creek and Strathewen in the aftermath of the 2009 Victorian bushfires
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
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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McGahy migration to the United States 
