Surname Taafe - Meaning and Origin

Taafe: What does the surname Taafe mean?

Taafe is a surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "O'Taithligh," meaning "descendant of Taithleach." The term "Taithleach" traditionally refers to a peaceful or quiet person. It was initially used as a personal name before evolving into a family name in Ireland. The Taafe family was a significant household in Ireland's history and was especially prominent in County Louth. The assumed spelling variations include Taaffe, Taffe, Taaff, and others. Considering historical migrations and expansions, this surname and its variants are now found in many parts of the world including Europe, America, and Australia.

Taafe: Where does the name Taafe come from?

The last name Taafe is most commonly found among Irish and Scottish descendants today. The surname originates from Gaelic personal names, "Mac Tadhg," which means "son of Tadhg." Tadhg is the Gaelic rendering of the English name Theobald meaning "bold warrior." It is likely that the Taafes were warriors of noble descent that served the local chieftain.

According to Ancestry.com, the Taafe surname is most commonly found among Irish descendants living in the United States today. It is estimated that there are over 3,000 Taafes currently living in the United States. Several Taafe-named individuals can be found in the hockey-saturated regions of Canada and the United States.

Today, the Taafe surname can also be found commonly among descendants in the United Kingdom. The vast majority of individuals with the last name Taafe can be found mostly in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. There is a small but statistically insignificant presence of the Taafe surname among individuals of French, Dutch, and Spanish descent.

In conclusion, the last name Taafe is most commonly found among Irish and Scottish descendants in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and some parts of Europe today. It is a popular variation of the Gaelic personal name Mac Tadhg and the English name Theobald meaning “bold warrior.”

Variations of the surname Taafe

The surname Taafe is an English, Irish, and Irish-American surname of Norman ancestry. It is derived from the ancient name Taffel, which originated in France and was popularized in the British Isles after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Variants of the Taafe surname include Taaff, Taaffee, Taaffe, Taafey, Taffe, Taffey, Taffee, Taff, Taffely, and Taverner.

In England, the Taafe family was originally of Norman French origin, its earliest appearing in the form of Taquel, which is said to be a variant of Taffel. It further developed into Talef, and a variant spelling can be found as Taf.

In Ireland, the Taaffe family is descended from an ancient Norman family who came to Ireland during the 12th century and settled there. The name can be found in many different forms in Irish records, including Taffe, Taffel, Taaff, Teaiffe, Teafe, Taaffee, Taaffe, Taffely, and Taff.

In America, the Taafe family is largely descended from Irish immigrants who settled in Colonial America in the 18th century. Variations of the name include Taaf, Taaffe, Taaffey, Taffe, Taff, and Taffey.

Overall, the Taafe surname has seen many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin throughout its 600-year history. It is likely that some of the more uncommon variants, such as Talef, Teaiffe, and Teafe, are the oldest spellings of the name and have been lost in the passage of time.

Famous people with the name Taafe

• Stephen Taafe, Irish professional golfer
• Lord Taaffe, former Irish peer and politician
• Christopher Taafe, award-winning sound editor and sound designer
• Kiernan Taaffe, Irish tennis player
• Marty Taaffe, former professional ice hockey player
• Jen Taaffe, vocal coach and singer
• Mickey Taaffe, English former footballer
• Lord Charles Taaffe, Irish politician and soldier
• Con Taaffe, former Irish hurler
• Faye Taaffe, Irish camogie player

Other surnames

Taaffe