MacCabe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of MacCabe

What does the name MacCabe mean?

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

Early Origins of the MacCabe family

The surname MacCabe 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.

Early History of the MacCabe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacCabe research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1601, 1613, 1689, 1740 and 1810 are included under the topic Early MacCabe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacCabe 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.

Early Notables of the MacCabe family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

Alexander MacCabe (fl.1689), who was a descendant of the last chieftains of the MacCabes

MacCabe migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacCabe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Betsy MacCabe, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 1
James MacCabe, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 1
Patrick MacCabe, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 1
John MacCabe, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 1
Pat MacCabe, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1816 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacCabe migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

MacCabe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Maccabe, (b. 1824), aged 19, English shoe maker who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years for stealing transported aboard the "Forfarshire" on 24th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1845 2

Contemporary Notables of the name MacCabe (post 1700) +

James F. Maccabe, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 9th District, 1896-97 3
Gladys Maccabe MBE (1918-2018), Northern Ireland artist from Randalstown, County Antrim
Dominick MacCabe, Irish politician, Member of Seanad Éireann from 1938 to 1948
Edward MacCabe (1816-1885), (or McCabe) Irish Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin from 1879 to 1882
Francis Peter MacCabe (1817-1897), Irish-born, Australian surveyor in the colony of New South Wales, eponym of MacCabe Park, Wollongong, Australia
Christopher George Maccabe CB (b. 1946), former Political Director of the Northern Ireland Office
Brian Farmer MacCabe (1914-1992), English silver medalist at the 1936 Summer Olympics
Gladys Maccabe MBE (b. 1918), Northern Ireland artist
Colin MacCabe (b. 1949), British writer and film producer
Thomas MacCabe, Australian Clergyman

The MacCabe 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.

Sources +

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 20th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/forfarshire
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html