Irish Surnames - Cuff, Duff and Duffy
Origin of these Irish Surnames
The surname Cuff is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Dhuibhshíthe, meaning "son of the black fairy." The name is associated with the Connacht region of western Ireland, particularly the counties of Mayo and Roscommon. The Cuff surname is relatively uncommon in Ireland and can also be found around the world in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The evidence for the connection between the Cuff and Duff surnames is primarily linguistic and historical. Both surnames are derived from the same Gaelic name, Mac Dhuibhshíthe, and represent different anglicisations of that name. This is a common pattern with many Gaelic surnames, which were often anglicised in different ways depending on the region or context in which they were adopted. The linguistic and regional connections provide a strong indication that they are related.
The Duffy surname is also connected to the Cuff and Duff surnames through their shared Gaelic origin. Duffy is another common anglicisation of the Gaelic name Mac Dhuibhshíthe. Like Cuff and Duff, Duffy is associated with the Connacht region of western Ireland, particularly the counties of Mayo and Roscommon. Over time, different branches of the family may have adopted different spellings or variations of the original surname, leading to the development of multiple related but distinct surnames, including Cuff, Duff, and Duffy.
Famous People with the Surname Cuff, Duff and Duffy
- James Francis Cuff: An Irish-born Australian politician who served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in the late 1800s.
- John Cuffe: An Irish politician who served as a member of the Irish Free State Seanad Éireann in the 1920s and 1930s.
- Peter Cuff: A Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League in the 1920s and 1930s.
- Hilary Duff: An American actress, singer, and songwriter, best known for her role as the title character in the Disney Channel series "Lizzie McGuire."
- Haylie Duff: An American actress and singer, best known for her roles in the TV series "7th Heaven" and the film "Napoleon Dynamite."
- Domhnall Duff: An Irish hurler who won three All-Ireland medals with the Cork senior hurling team in the 1940s and 1950s.
- Duffy: A Welsh singer-songwriter, known for her hit songs "Mercy" and "Warwick Avenue."
- Patrick J. Duffy: An American actor, best known for his roles in the TV series "Dallas" and "Step by Step."
- Carol Ann Duffy: A Scottish poet and playwright, who served as the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 2009 to 2019.
Variations of the Irish Surname Cuff, Duff and Duffy
Once you start listing these variations it quickly gets out of hand, indicating just how hard it is to keep track of the origins and changes in surnames.
- Cuff, Coffey, Cough, Couff, McCuff
- Duff, MacDuff, Duffy, Duffey, Duffie, O'Duff
- Duffy, O'Duffy, Duffey, Duffie, Duffield, Duffill
Cuff Coat of Arms
The Cuff coat of arms features a shield with three gold lions on a red background, and a red chevron with three silver bells and the crest features a silver stag's head.
Cuff Motto
The motto associated with the Cuff family is "Virtute et Fidelitate," which means "By Virtue and Faithfulness."
Please Note
There is often limited information available on a specific coat of arms and motto for an Irish surname. Sometimes there are many variations, sometimes none, we have compiled a representative, but by no means exhaustive, selection. Please visit our Coat of Arms and Motto page for more information.
DNA And Your Irish Roots
- DNA and your Irish Heritage
- DNA, Discovery and Functions
- Types of DNA tests
- DNA testing companies
- Y-chromosome and Father's Ancestral Line
- Mitochondrial DNA and Mother's Ancestral Line
- DNA and Ethnicity
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