Haffey

Joseph, Marie, Grace and Thomas Haffey circa  1896

Haffey or Haughey is considered a varient of the gaelic O hEachaidh meaning Grandson of Eachaidh (rich in cattle).  Other variations include Hoy, Haughey and Haghey.  All of the different spellings are found in the Ulster area especially in the Donegal and Oriel country around counties Armagh and Monaghan.  MacLysaght in The Surnames of Ireland states that the variant Haffey is exlusive to the Armagh area.

The sept of O hEachaidh was of such importance in early times that its chiefs were Kings of Ulster until the end of the twelfth century when their kinsmen the MacDonlevys superceded them in that dignity.

Another possible origin for a person who cannot connect with the Armagh Haffey's could be a corruption of the Scottish Gaelic name Mahaffey (Mac Dhuibshithe) meaning a black haired man of peace (soith).  This name has been anglecized to MacAfee, MacHaffy and MacFie as well as Mahaffey and is present in County Donegal.  Although many of the Irish dropped the O from their names in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it is less common to drop Ma or Mac, however, it is possible that a family coming to the US or Canada might have done so.

Lineage: 

1. Isabel Louise Haffey 1897-1989 m. Francis Martin Madden  [Dropbox]
2. Joseph Phillip 1848-1917 m. Mary Murphy  [Dropbox]
3. John James 1819-1884 m. Margaret Keenan  [Dropbox]
• Haffey Family Genealogy John James Haffey and descendants - 4 generations
4. Background   [Dropbox]

Places:

• Bay City, Michigan 
• Adjala, Ontario, Canada  [Dropbox] 
• Armagh, Ireland

More:

• Haffey Gedcom File  (Includes unrelated Haffey families) 
• Link to Haffey Documents, News items and Pictures