Mahaffey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancestors of the Mahaffey family lived among the Strathclyde people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. Their name is derived from the Gaelic personal name Debshithe, which means the black man of peace.
Early Origins of the Mahaffey family
The surname Mahaffey 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 Mahaffey family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mahaffey research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1320 and 1540 are included under the topic Early Mahaffey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Mahaffey Spelling Variations
The variation in the spelling of Medieval names is a result of the lack of spelling rules in the English language prior to the last few hundred years. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound, often varying the spelling of name within a single document. Mahaffey has appeared as 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 Mahaffey family
More information is included under the topic Early Mahaffey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Mahaffey Ranking
In the United States, the name Mahaffey is the 4,472nd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1
Migration of the Mahaffey family to Ireland
Some of the Mahaffey 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.
Mahaffey migration to the United States +
As the persecution of Clan families continued, they sailed for North America in increasing numbers. In most cases, they found the freedom and opportunity they sought. Land was often available and the American War of Independence allowed Scots an opportunity to solidify their independence from the English crown. These settlers and their ancestors went on to play essential roles in the forging of the nations of the United States and Canada. Among them:
Mahaffey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- William Mahaffey, who arrived in America in 1796 2
Mahaffey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- John Mahaffey, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1821 2
- Robert Mahaffey, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1821 2
- John Mahaffey, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1840
- George Mahaffey, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1864 2
- Wade Mahaffey, aged 36, who settled in America, in 1892
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Mahaffey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- M. Mahaffey, who immigrated to the United States, in 1903
- Nelly Mahaffey, aged 21, who landed in America, in 1908
- L.T. Mahaffey, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
- W.T. Mahaffey, who landed in America, in 1909
- Margaret Mahaffey, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1909
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Mahaffey (post 1700) +
- James Watson "Jim" Mahaffey (1936-2020), American bridge player who had five North American Bridge Championships wins
- Michael Darren "Mike" Mahaffey (1967-2005), American musician, founding member of the power pop band Self with his brother, Matt Mahaffey
- Matt Mahaffey (b. 1973), American multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and recording engineer best known for his band Self
- Valerie Mahaffey (b. 1953), Indonesian-born, American actress who won an Emmy Award for her work on Northern Exposure
- Randolph Mahaffey (b. 1945), American former professional ABA basketball player
- John Drayton Mahaffey Jr. (b. 1948), American PGA professional golfer
- Arthur "Art" Mahaffey (b. 1938), American Major League Baseball player
- Maryann Mahaffey (1925-2006), former Member of the Detroit City Council
- Fred Keith Mahaffey (1934-1986), United States Army General, Commander in Chief, United States Readiness Command (1985 to 1986)
Suggested Readings for the name Mahaffey +
- Arthur Ellison of Adams County, Ohio and some of his Descendants and Relatives by Floyd Vernon Ellison.
- Mahaffey Descendants by Estelle Kinports Davis.
Citations +
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)