Surname Origins

From Rev. Patrick Woulfe's book

1. "MacFlaitim - MacLave, Claffy, Claffey, Hand; 'son of Flaiteam' (lord, ruler); also MagFlaitim".

2. "MacLaitim - M'Glave, MacLave, MacClave, Claffey, Claffy, and by translation, 'Hand"; 'son of Flaiteam'; variation of MacFlaitim and MagLaitim. The surname was so pronounced as to be mistaken for MacLaim, hence the erroneous translation Hand".

3. "MacLataig - Claffey, Clafry & etc."

From Edward MacLysaght's books

1. (Mac)Claffey - "Claffey is the midland form of MacLaithimh anglicized MacClave in Ulster. Laitheamh is a variant form of flaitheamh, lord or ruler. See Hand."

2. MacClave - MacLaithimh (formerly MacFhlaithimh form flaiteamh, lord). This is also anglicized as Claffey now Hand in Co. Monaghan by pseudo-translation (lamh, hand).

3. (Mac)Claffey, MacClave - MacLaithimh, anglicized MacClave and MacLave in Ulster, and made by pseudo-translation Hand in Co. Monaghan, has become Claffey in the midlands. It is found mainly in the country around Athlone.

From Seamus Claffey, Ferbane, County Offaly, Ireland

1. MacFlaithimh - a very old name, at least 1000 years old.

From Claffeys in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, as told to spell it in school before and after rules were changed regarding Gaelic spelling:

1. Before: MacFlaithaimh; After: MacLaithaimh

2. Pronounced as in "Mock Law Hoff", before and after.

From Hanks and Hodges "A Dictionary of Surnames"

1. Claffey - an anglicized form of MacFhlaith, "prince"