The surnames McCabe (Irish: '''Mac Cába''')[1] and MacCabe are Irish and Scottish surnames. McCabes are considered to have moved from the Western Isles of Scotland to Ireland sometime around 1350. McCabes are now found mostly in the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.[2]
McCabe and MacCabe are Anglicisations of the Gaelic Mac Cába, a patronymic name meaning "son of Cába". The surname can be written in modern Scottish Gaelic as MacCàba and MacCaibe.
The nickname or personal name Cába is of uncertain origin.[3] Patrick Woulfe considered that the surname was possibly derived from a nickname, meaning "a cap", or "hood".[4] Henry Harrison suggested the name was from the Gaelic Mac Aba, meaning "son of the Abbot".[5] If Harrison is to be believed then the surname would have a similar etymology as the surnames MacNab, McNab, which are from the Gaelic Mac an Aba, Mac an Abadh.[3]
According to a pedigree written by Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh, the MacCabes descend from the MacLeods and king Sitric Silkenbeard.[4]
Bearers of the McCabe and MacCabe surnames are considered to have settled in Ireland from the Western Isles of Scotland sometime around 1350. They were employed as gallowglass (mercenary soldiers) to the O'Reillys and O'Rourkes which were the principal septs of Breffny. In time the MacCabes became a recognised Irish sept, with the chieftain being called "Constable of the two Breffnys".
According to MacLysaght in the mid 20th century, statistics then showed that the surname was more numerous in the Breffny area than anywhere else. MacCabe landowners are also associated with County Monaghan and County Cavan.
The principal families of the name lost their estates after the Battle of Aughrim in 1691.[6]
According to a genealogy which purports to date from the 17th century, Alexander MacCabe (fl.1689) was a descendant of the last chieftains of the MacCabes. Within the genealogy, his arms are blazoned: vert a fesse wavy between three salmons naiant argent; crest a demi-griffon segreant; motto aut vincere aut mori.[7]
McCabes are now found mostly in the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. The number of McCabes as of 2014 was as follows:[2]
In the 1990 United States Census, McCabe was ranked 1,200th most common surname, and MacCabe was ranked 43,031st.[8] At the 2000 United States Census neither ranked among the top 1,000 most common surnames.[9]
| Aleksandra Bukowska-McCabe | 1977 | Poland | Diplomat | |
| Andrew McCabe (sprinter) | 1990 | Australia | Sprinter | |
| Andrew McCabe | 1968 | United States | Law enforcement official | |
| Bill McCabe (baseball) | 1892–1966 | United States | Baseball player | |
| Bryan McCabe | 1975 | Canada | Canadian hockey player | |
| Cathal McCabe | 1963 | Ireland | Irish poet | |
| Charles Cardwell McCabe | 1836–1906 | United States | Methodist minister, bishop, Civil War chaplain, singer and nationally known religious humorist | |
| Clare McCabe | United Kingdom | British-American chemical engineer | ||
| Colin MacCabe | 1949 | United Kingdom | Writer and film producer | |
| Colleen McCabe | 1952 | United Kingdom | Fraudster, former headteacher | |
| Corina Dean McCabe | 1986 | United States | Writer | |
| Dave McCabe | 1981 | United Kingdom | English vocalist and musician | |
| Donal McCabe | United Kingdom | Communications Secretary to the Queen | ||
| David McCabe | 1940–2021 | Famous photographer | ||
| Dick McCabe (disambiguation) | several people | |||
| Edward McCabe (disambiguation) | several people | |||
| Edward MacCabe | 1816–1885 | Ireland | Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin | |
| Eugene McCabe | 1930–2020 | Scotland/Ireland | Scots-born Irish novelist, short story writer, playwright, and television screenwriter | |
| Gladys Maccabe | 1918–2018 | Ireland | Northern Irish painter | |
| Harriet Calista Clark McCabe | 1827–1919 | United States | Philanthropist | |
| Herbert McCabe | 1926–2001 | United Kingdom | Roman Catholic priest | |
| Jake McCabe | 1993 | United States | Ice hockey player | |
| James H. McCabe | 1870–1957 | United States | New York politician | |
| Jessica McCabe | 1982 | United States | Actress and YouTube personality | |
| Jewell Jackson McCabe | 1945 | United States | Businessperson | |
| Jill McCabe | 1962 | Sweden | Middle-distance runner | |
| John McCabe (disambiguation) | several people | |||
| Joseph McCabe (disambiguation) | several people | |||
| Katie McCabe | 1995 | Ireland | International footballer | |
| Kevin McCabe (disambiguation) | several people | |||
| Lida Rose McCabe | 1865–1938 | United States | Author, journalist, lecturer | |
| Lorenzo Dow McCabe | 1817–1897 | United States | Minister, professor of mathematics | |
| Martha McCabe | 1989 | Canada | Swimmer | |
| Michael McCabe | United States | Environment and energy policy advisor | ||
| Milo McCabe | 1976 | United Kingdom | Television presenter and comedian | |
| Nicholas McCabe | 1850–1914 | Australia | Inventor | |
| Nick McCabe | 1971 | United Kingdom | English musician | |
| Norman McCabe | 1911–2006 | United States | American animator | |
| Patrick McCabe (disambiguation) | several people | |||
| Paul McCabe | 1959 | Australia | Rugby league footballer | |
| Richard McCabe | 1960 | United Kingdom | Scottish actor | |
| Ruth McCabe | (fl.) 1970's - | Ireland | stage and screen actress | |
| Shawn McCabe | 1972 | United States | U.S. Marine Corps | |
| Stan McCabe | 1910–1968 | Australia | Cricketer | |
| Steve McCabe | 1955 | United Kingdom | English politician | |
| Thomas McCabe (disambiguation) | several people | |||
| Warren L. McCabe | 1899–1982 | United States | Chemical engineer | |
| William McCabe (disambiguation) | several people | |||
| Zia McCabe | 1975 | United States | Musician |
. Edward MacLysaght . Irish Families, Their Names, Arms and Origins . 1957 . Hodges, Figgis & Co. . . 69 - 70 .
. John D'Alton (historian) . Illustrations, Historical and Genealogical, of King James's Irish Army List . 1861 . John Russell Smith . . 2 . 2nd enlarged . 753 - 755.