MacAbee Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available: Irish, Scottish

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The MacAbee 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 MacAbee comes from the Gaelic word Caba, meaning 'hat' or 'cap.' Thus, it belongs to the nickname category of surnames.

MacAbee Early Origins

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The surname MacAbee 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.

MacAbee 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.

MacAbee Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacAbee research. Another 332 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1601, 1613, 1689, 1740, and 1810 are included under the topic Early MacAbee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacAbee Early Notables (pre 1700)

Another 22 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacAbee Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Andrew, Anne, Bernard, Bridget, Charles, Edward, Francis, Hugh, James, John, Mary, Michael, Patrick, Peter, and Thomas MacCabe, who all arrived in Philadelphia, Pa. between 1820 and 1860..

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.

MacAbee Family Crest Products

Citations

Other References

Fitzgerald, Thomas W. Ireland and Her People A Library of Irish Biography 5 Volumes. Chicago: Fitzgerald. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X).
Leyburn, James Graham. The Scotch-Irish A Social History. Chapel Hill: UNC Press, 1962. Print. (ISBN 0807842591).
Chadwick, Nora Kershaw and J.X.W.P Corcoran. The Celts. London: Penguin, 1970. Print. (ISBN 0140212116).
Robb H. Amanda and Andrew Chesler. Encyclopedia of American Family Names. New York: Haper Collins, 1995. Print. (ISBN 0-06-270075-8).
Bolton, Charles Knowles. Bolton's American Armory. Baltimore: Heraldic Book Company, 1964. Print.
Zieber, Eugene. Heraldry in America. Philadelphia: Genealogical Publishing Co. Print.
Weis, Frederick Lewis, Walter Lee Sheppard and David Faris. Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came to New England Between 1623 and 1650 7th Edition. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0806313676).
Colletta, John P. They Came In Ships. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1993. Print.
Woulfe, Rev. Patrick. Irish Names and Surnames Collected and Edited with Explanatory and Historical Notes. Kansas City: Genealogical Foundation, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-940134-403).
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The MacAbee Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The MacAbee Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 2 October 2003 at 16:01.