| ![Show Contents]() Gafney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland The Irish name Gafney has a long Gaelic heritage to its credit. The original Gaelic form of the name Gafney is "Ó Gamhna." However, the name was also used as an Anglicized form by the septs of Ó Caibheanaigh, Mac Conghamhna, and Mac Carrghamhna.1 Early Origins of the Gafney familyThe surname Gafney was first found in County Roscommon (Irish: Ros Comáin) located in central Ireland in the province of Connacht, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Early History of the Gafney familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gafney research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1172 and 1270 are included under the topic Early Gafney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gafney Spelling VariationsJust 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 Gafney family name include Gaffney, Gafney, Gaffeney, Gaffeny, Gafferny, Gaffin, Gaffnay, Gaffny, Caulfields, Keveneys and many more. Early Notables of the Gafney familyMore information is included under the topic Early Gafney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Gafney migration to the United States | + |
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 Gafney name:
Gafney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- James Gafney, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 2
- Bernard, John Matthew, Michael, Patrick and William Gafney, who arrived in Philadelphia during the same period
- Michael Gafney, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1843 2
| Gafney migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Gafney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. Patrick Gafney, (b. 1805), aged 24, Irish convict who was convicted in Tipperary, Ireland for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd March 1829, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1840 3
- Luke Gafney, aged 45, a blacksmith, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Hyderabad" 4
- John Gafney, aged 16, a blacksmith, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Hyderabad" 4
- Ellen Gafney, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Hyderabad" 4
- Margaret Gafney, aged 14, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Hyderabad" 4
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Gafney (post 1700) | + |
- Ronnie Gafney (b. 1980), American footballer who played for the Israel National Team in 2006
- MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
- 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)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
- South Australian Register Wednesday 15th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Hyderabad 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/hyderabad1854.shtml
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Gafney migration to the United States 
Gafney migration to Australia 
