McCabe

Etymology

McCabe is the anglicized form of Mac Cába (Irish) and MacCàba (Scottish Gaelic). The prefix Mac- means “son of”, while Cába is a byname derived from the word for “cape” or “cloak”, ultimately from Latin cappa. The name thus originally referred to a maker or wearer of cloaks. Cognates in other languages include the French Chaput (meaning “little cloak”) and the Italian Capello, both referencing the garment trade.

Distinctive Bearers

The McCabe family was part of the Gallowglass (foreign warrior) sept that originated in Scotland and settled in Ulster, Ireland, during the 13th century. As a surnames, McCabe is found predominantly in counties Cavan and Monaghan. In the United States, the 2010 census ranked it as the 1154th most common surname, held by 30,401 individuals, the vast majority (91.49%) identifying as White.

Cultural Significance

The name appears in Irish ballad history, notably associated with “McCabe”, an armed patrol of retainers or soldiers serving a local chieftain during the Kingdom of Breifne. The phrase “near McCabe’s complexity” reflects a known Irish-American expression referring to simple or tidy arrangements, echoing the name’s original association with the tailoring or ordering of clothes.

• Meaning: Son of Cába (cloak)
• Origin: Irish, Scottish Gaelic
• Type: Surname
• Usage Regions: Ireland, Scotland, United States