McCabe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

Ireland

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The McCabe family's roots in Ireland stretch back to the year 1350, when they were imported to Ireland as mercenaries, or gallowglasses, from Scotland by the Irish chiefs of the O'Rourkes and the O'Reillys of Leitrim and Cavan. This family was named for the peculiar headgear it wore: the name McCabe comes from the Gaelic word Caba, meaning 'hat' or 'cap.' Thus, it belongs to the nickname category of surnames.

Early Origins of the McCabe family

The surname McCabe was first found in on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. Shortly after their arrival in Ireland in 1350, they became a recognized Breffny sept with their chief being "Constable of the two Breffnys". This would be their homeland for centuries. They were known as mercenaries to the O'Reillys and the O'Rourkes, but then became their own Sept in Breffny and their Chief was the 'Constable of the two Breffnys.'

During the middle of the 14th century, they were granted lands in Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Meath. The MaCabes lost their estates after the battle of Aughrim in 1691.

Early History of the McCabe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCabe research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1601, 1613, 1689, 1740 and 1810 are included under the topic Early McCabe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCabe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: McAbbe, Caybe, McCaibe, MacAbe, Abee, McAbeee, McAbbee, Abbee, McCaybe, Cabe, Abeee, MacCabee, MacCabe, McCabe, Cabbe, McAbee, Caibe and many more.

Early Notables of the McCabe family

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

McCabe World Ranking

In the United States, the name McCabe is the 1,200^th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 1 However, in Australia, the name McCabe is ranked the 717^th most popular surname with an estimated 5,436 people with that name. 2 And in New Zealand, the name McCabe is the 659^th popular surname with an estimated 1,078 people with that name. 3 The United Kingdom ranks McCabe as 659^th with 9,971 people. 4

McCabe migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McCabe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Sarah McCabe, who arrived in America in 1764 5

McCabe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward McCabe, aged 35, who landed in New Castle or Philadelphia in 1805 5
Joseph McCabe, who landed in America in 1811 5
Linus McCabe, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1812 5
Owen McCabe, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1812 5
Hugh McCabe, aged 29, who arrived in Maryland in 1813 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McCabe Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Elizabeth McCabe, who arrived in Arkansas in 1905 5

McCabe migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McCabe Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James McCabe, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1783

McCabe Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Richard McCabe, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1821
Francis McCabe, who landed in Canada in 1829
Eliza McCabe, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ugoni" from Belfast, Ireland
Michael McCabe, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
Mary McCabe, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Edwin" from Dublin, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McCabe migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McCabe Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Alexander Mccabe, (b. 1773), aged 20, Irish convict who was convicted in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1850 6

McCabe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Mccabe, (b. 1801), aged 21, Irish reaper who was convicted in Wicklow, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 3rd September 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. John Herbert McCabe who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 3rd October 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Mr. Robert Mccabe, (b. 1803), aged 31, English farm labourer who was convicted in Durham, England for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Margaret McCabe, who arrived in Glenelg Roads aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1838 10
Mr. Michael McCabe, British Convict who was convicted in Jamaica for 14 years, transported aboard the "Canton" on 20th September 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McCabe migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McCabe Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. James McCabe, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 12
Charles Martin McCabe, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Eagle" in 1854 13
Mr. Dunbar McCabe, Scottish settler travelling from Leith aboard the ship 'Melbourne' arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 18th March 1861 14
Mr. James Mccabe, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 17th October 1863 12
Gratton McCabe, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Surat" in 1864
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McCabe (post 1700) +

Frank Reilly McCabe (1927-2021), American gold medalist basketball player in the 1952 Summer Olympics
Arva Moore Parks McCabe (1939-2020), American historian, author and preservationist in Miami, Florida, inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame (1986)
Andrew George McCabe (b. 1968), American attorney and politician, Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2016-), Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2017), former Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2018)
Brigadier-General Edward Raynsford Warner McCabe (1876-1960), American Assistant Chief of Staff (G2) US Army (1937-1940) 15
Edward A. McCabe (b. 1917), Irish-born American aide to President Dwight Eisenhower
Edward P. McCabe (1850-1923), American politician
Eugene McCabe (1930-2020), Scottish-born Irish novelist, short story writer, playwright, and television screenwriter
Patrick McCabe (b. 1955), Irish novelist
Gerard McCabe (b. 1980), Northern Irish actor
Eamonn McCabe (1948-2022), English photographer born in London, many of his portraits are held in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McCabe family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. James McCabe, British Fireman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 16
Mr. Richard McCabe, British Trimmer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 16
Mr. Thomas McCabe, British Trimmer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 16

Grover Shoe factory

Mrs. J. H. Mccabe, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; she survived 17

Hillsborough disaster

Marian Hazel McCabe (1968-1989), English factory worker who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and she died from her injuries 18

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Donald Wolsey McCabe (1921-1941), Australian Acting Paymaster Sub-Lieutenant (S) from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 19
Mr. Ernest Victor McCabe (1922-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Paddington, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 19

HMS Royal Oak

Cornelius B. McCabe, British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 20

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Andrew Mccabe, English Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 21
Mr. Richard Mccabe, English Fireman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 21
Mr. John Alexander Mccabe, English Trimmer from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 21

SS Caribou

Mr. Roy A. McCabe, British passenger who was Captain of the P.E.I. Highlander from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking

The McCabe 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: Aut vincere aut mori
Motto Translation: Either to conquer or die.