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book
The Surnames of Ireland
by Edward MacLysaght
Edward MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland, 6th edition (Dublin, Ireland, Irish Academic Press Ltd., 1985).
ISBN 0-7165-2366-3
Notes
*1 Meaning ‘nickname,’ I think.
*2 The majority of names starting with Dubh or Duibh in Irish are derived from the adjective dubh, black; the second part of such names is usually speculative being often obsolete forenames [first names]. Similarly those beginning with Donn or Duinn are mainly from donn, brown.
Duff
As well as being a surname of the epithet {*1} type (dubh, black) Duff occurs as an abbreviated form of Duffin in Co. Wexford, of MacElduff in Co. Tyrone, and of Duffy in several counties. See Black.
MacDuff
The name of a Scottish clan found in Ulster.
(O) Duffin
O Duibhainn, earlier O Duibhghinn {*2} (perhaps dubh or ceann, head). Though found in Munster in mediaeval times and still in Co. Waterford, Duffin has been mainly found in east Ulster and Louth.
(O) Duffy
O Duibthaigh {*2} A numerous name in all the provinces except Munster. Modern statistics show that it is now the most numerous name in Co. Monaghan. See Duhig.
(O) Duhig
The south Munster form of O Duibthaigh elsewhere called Duffy.
Mac Fee
See Mahaffy.
Mac Fie
See Mahaffy.
(O) Fee, Fey, Foy, Fye
All these are variant anglicized forms of O Fiaich. They are occasionally changed to Fay by absorption or made Hunt by pseudo-translation; in modern contracted spelling fiach (raven) fiadhach (hunt) are identical. The most numerous of the forms given above are Fee (in Fermanagh, Armagh and Cavan) and Foy (Cavan and north Connaght).
Mahaffy
A Scottish Gaelic name — Mac Dhuibhshithe (from sioth, peace, making black-haired man of peace_ — also anglicized MacAfee, MacHaffy and MacFie. In Ireland these names mainly belong to Co. Donegal.
Mehaffy
A form of Mahaffy usually in Co. Monaghan.
