Grafner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Etymology of Grafner

The Irish name Grafner has a long Gaelic heritage to its credit. The original Gaelic form of the name Grafner 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 Grafner family

Early History of the Grafner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grafner research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1172 and 1270 are included under the topic Early Grafner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grafner Spelling Variations

The 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 because the general population had to rely on local official's understanding of how their name should be spelt, hence spellings in records often changed through a person's lifetime. The following variations for the name Grafner were encountered in the archives: Gaffney, Gafney, Gaffeney, Gaffeny, Gafferny, Gaffin, Gaffnay, Gaffny, Caulfields, Keveneys and many more.

Early Notables of the Grafner family

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

Migration of the Grafner family

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Grafner to North America: Patrick Gaffanay who arrived in Philadelphia in 1860; Bernard, Christopher, James, Michael, Patrick, Thomas, and William Gaffney, arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.