Find out how popular the last name Cuffey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cuffey.

Cuffey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cuffey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cuffey in America

Cuffey is the 121590th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cuffey surname appeared 142 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cuffey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cuffey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cuffey

The surname Cuffey has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cufe," which meant a small chamber or storage room. Over time, this word evolved into "cuff" or "cofe," referring to a small dwelling or cottage.

In medieval England, surnames often originated from occupations, locations, or physical characteristics. The name Cuffey likely referred to someone who lived in a small hut or cottage, or perhaps someone who worked as a caretaker or custodian of such a dwelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cuffey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a person named William Cuffi is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use in the 13th century, although with a slightly different spelling.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name appeared in various records and documents across different counties in England. For instance, a John Cuffey was born in Gloucestershire in 1586, and a William Cuffey was baptized in Westmorland in 1612.

One notable figure with the surname Cuffey was Paul Cuffee, an American businessman, sea captain, and abolitionist of Wampanoag and Ashanti descent. He was born in 1759 on Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts, and played a significant role in the early African colonization movement, transporting free African Americans to Sierra Leone in the late 18th century.

Another prominent individual was Maurice Cuffe, an Irish-born soldier and landowner who served in the English Civil War. He was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1619 and later became a member of the Parliament of England during the Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell.

In the 19th century, Jeremiah Cuffey, an English Chartist and political activist, gained recognition for his involvement in the working-class movement and advocacy for universal suffrage. He was born in Liverpool in 1788 and spent several years in prison for his political activities.

The surname Cuffey has also been found in various spellings throughout history, such as Cuffe, Cuffee, and Cuffie, reflecting the variations that occurred over time and across different regions.

While the name Cuffey may not have been as widespread as some other English surnames, its origins and historical references provide insights into the lives and occupations of those who bore this name in the past.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cuffey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cuffey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cuffey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cuffey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cuffey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cuffey, please contact us.

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