McGaffey meaning | Last name McGaffey origin

Form of Coffee. May be local, or may be of common origin with Coffin, Caffin, etc., the root being Lat. calrus, bald. "Coffee," Scholar says Ferguson, "I take to be the same as Coifi, the name of a converted heathen priest, who, on the reception of Christianity by the people of Northumbria, undertook the demolition of the ancient fanes. It has been asserted that this is not an Anglo-Saxon but a Cymric name, and that it denotes in Welsh a Druid, but Mr. Kemble has shown that it is an adjective formed from cóf, strenuous, and means "the bold or active one." Coaffee. May be local, or may be of common origin with Coffin, Caffin, & c., the root being Lat. calrus, bald. "Coffee," says Ferguson, "I take to be the same as Coifi, the name of a converted heathen priest, who, on the reception of Christianity by the people of Northumbria, undertook the demolition of the ancient fanes. It has been asserted that this is not an Anglo-Saxon but a Cymric name, and that it denotes in Welsh a Druid, but Mr. Kemble has shown that it is an adjective formed from cóf, strenuous, and means "the bold or active one."

McGaffey is form of Mulcahy. Grandson of Maolchatha that means "battle chief," or of Maolcathach meaning "war-like chief," or of Maolchathaigh, i.e., follower of Cathach, warlike.

Variant of McCahey. The son of the horseman or cavalryman.

McGaffey is variation of Cofer. One who made coffers, boxes and chests; one who kept the treasure box, a treasurer; one who made and sold coifs, a kind of close-fitting cap for both sexes.