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

Mahaffey, 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 Mahaffey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mahaffey in America

Mahaffey is the 4400th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mahaffey surname appeared 8,079 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Mahaffey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mahaffey 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 Mahaffey

The surname MAHAFFEY is of Irish origin, with its roots traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic personal name "Mahon," which means "bear" or "great chief." The name is also closely associated with the County Monaghan region of Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MAHAFFEY surname can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Elizabeth I, a collection of official records from the 16th century. Here, the name appears as "Mahoffy" in reference to individuals residing in County Monaghan.

In the 17th century, the name MAHAFFEY began to appear in various historical documents, such as the Hearth Money Rolls of 1663-1665. These rolls were a form of tax record, providing valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames across Ireland during that period.

The MAHAFFEY surname has also been linked to the Gaelic word "Machaire," which means "plain" or "field." This connection suggests that the name may have originally referred to individuals who lived or worked on fertile plains or fields in County Monaghan.

One notable figure in history bearing the MAHAFFEY surname was William MAHAFFEY, an Irish-born soldier who served in the American Revolutionary War. Born in 1745 in County Monaghan, he emigrated to America and fought alongside the Continental Army, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership.

Another prominent individual with the MAHAFFEY surname was John MAHAFFEY, a prominent lawyer and politician in the early 19th century. Born in 1789 in County Monaghan, he served as a member of the Irish Parliament and was instrumental in advocating for Catholic emancipation and religious freedom.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the MAHAFFEY surname began to appear in various records and documents across the United States, reflecting the emigration of Irish families bearing this name to the new world. One such example is James MAHAFFEY, a farmer and landowner born in 1780 in Pennsylvania, whose descendants spread across several states.

The MAHAFFEY surname has also been documented in various place names throughout Ireland, such as Mahaffey Bridge in County Monaghan and Mahaffey's Cross in County Fermanagh. These place names further underscore the deep roots and historical significance of this surname in the Irish landscape.

Throughout history, the MAHAFFEY surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Mahaffie, Mahaffy, Mahaffi, and Mahaffey. These variations often reflect regional dialects and the influence of different languages on the pronunciation and spelling of the name over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mahaffey

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

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 Mahaffey 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 Mahaffey 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 Mahaffey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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