McCabe Surname Meaning & Origin
What the McCabe last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the McCabe last name
Meaning of the McCabe last name: son of Cába ("cape, hood"). McCabe comes from Mac Cába, possibly from a byname meaning "cape, hood". The family came from the Hebrides as gallowglasses, professional soldiers hired by the lords of Breifne from the 14th century. They settled in Breifne, in the modern counties of Cavan and Leitrim, and in Monaghan, where they held their own territory. The name is still strongest in Cavan and Monaghan. Gallowglasses, from Irish gallóglach, "foreign warrior", were heavily armed soldiers of mixed Norse and Gaelic descent from the Hebrides and western Scotland, who served Irish lords for pay and land. The McCabes served as captains of gallowglasses, and their leaders held the title Constable of the two Breifnes. The name spread from Cavan and Monaghan to Dublin and Ulster, and many McCabes emigrated to the United States, England and Scotland in the 19th century.
Our historical archives hold much more on the McCabe name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the McCabe name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Scotland and England; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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McCabe name FAQ
What does the McCabe name mean?
Son of Cába ("cape, hood"). Common variants include MacCabe, McCaba, Cabe.
Where does the McCabe surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Scotland and England.
Is there a McCabe coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single McCabe crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized McCabe coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.