This is from the book IRISH FAMILIES by EDWARD MACLYSAGHT. There is a COFFEE
coat of arms illustrated-I do not know how to e-mail this, but if Allison
Coffee could send me a fax number, I will fax the picture.
O'COFFEY, Cowhig.
In Irish this name is O Cobhthaigh, pronounced O'Coffey as in English: it is
probably derived from the word cobhthach, meaning victorious. Coffey is one of
those surnames which have not resumed the prefix O, dropped during the period
of Gaelic submergence. Several distinct septs were prominent in mediaeval
times, of which two are still well represented in their original homeland.
These are O'Coffey of Corcalaoidhe in south-west Co. Cork, where local
pronounciation often makes the name Cowhig or Cowhey, as in the place name
Dunocowhey, called after them. This sept is of the same stock as the
O'Driscolls. A second minor sept was a branch of the O'Maddens of Ui Maine,
whose descendants are found to-day in Co. Roscommon. A third, once of
considerable importance but now scattered, belonged to Co. Westmeath where
they were famous as a bardic family. The most distinguished of these was
Dermot O'Coffey (fl. 1580), the Gaelic poet. Six other poets of this family
are represented in Gaelic literature. In more recent times the Leinster
Coffeys are represented by Charles Coffey (I700-I745), dramatist and actor,
the first to introduce Irish airs in a play. George Coffey (I857-I9I6), the
archaeologist, though his family has long associations with Dublin, was
descended from the Munster sept. The placename Rathcoffey occurs both in Co.
Kildare and Co. Leix.
Arms ~llustrated on Plate IV.
JOHN SULLIVAN
UPLAND, CA
jsulli8517(a)aol.com