Surname Raftery - Meaning and Origin
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Raftery: What does the surname Raftery mean?
The last name Raftery originates from Ireland and is a part of the Gaelic surname O’Raithbheartaigh. It can be translated to mean “descendant of Raithbheartach”. Raithbheartach is a personal name derived from the words raith or rathe, which mean “wheel”, and bheartach, which means “high” or “noble”, thus the combined translation of “noble wheel”. The Raftery family were part of the Galway sept, and held a territorial lordship at Ballydavid, County Mayo.
Although the original meaning of the name is unclear, it is believed to be derived from a wheel-making or chariot-making family that resided in the area. Over time, the name Raftery has also evolved to mean a "well-to-do family".
Today, there are many Rafterys that can be found throughout Ireland and in other countries that have an Irish heritage. Those with the surname commonly practice Catholic faith, and some of its variations include the names Rafferty, O’Rafferty, O’Raftery, and Raftery. As a surname, it is often associated with strength, resourcefulness, and reliability of its members, a reputation that is likely linked to the legendary Celtic ancestors of the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisRaftery: Where does the name Raftery come from?
The last name Raftery is most commonly found in Ireland today. It is an Irish family name that can be found particularly in the provinces of Connacht and Munster. There are numerous variations of the spelling of this name, including Rafferty, Redfearn, Raffertie, Raffertee, Rafterty and Raffertie.
The earliest records of the family name can be found in the eleventh century with records of Mauricius Raffertie and the Raffertie family in the town of Kilclooney in County Mayo. It is likely that during the great migration of Irish-born people in the wake of the potato famine of the mid-1800s, the surname was carried to other parts of Ireland and now has a much wider geographical spread.
Modern-day records show that the name Raftery is most commonly found in counties Mayo and Clare, although there are also records of the name in counties Galway, Roscommon, and Sligo. The name is also found in areas of Northern Ireland.
People with the Raftery surname are in wide-ranging occupations, with most still living in rural areas of Ireland. Larger concentrations of folks with the Raftery surname can be found in Dublin and Belfast.
Today, this surname is most certainly still a part of Irish heritage and its history continues to be clear and strong in the large numbers of Irish people who carry the surname today.
Variations of the surname Raftery
Raftery is an Irish surname derived from the Old Gaelic first name "Raghnall" and the Old Gaelic Word "bretheamh" meaning judge. Variants of this surname include Rafferty, Raffertee and Raffertie. Alternate spellings include Rafftery, Raffertie and Raufferty.
Rafferty and Rafferty are two common variants of Raftery, both of which originate from the Irish name O'Raithbheartaigh. This surname means descendant of Raithbheartach, meaning judicious or useful. In some cases, this surname may have been used to indicate a person who acted as a judge in disputes or as an arbiter.
Raufferty is another variant originating from O'Raithbheartaigh, which ultimately comes from the Old Gaelic elements 'bretheamh' meaning judge, and 'raghnall' meaning ruler or power. It may have been used as a surname indicating a person who held a judicial role in their community.
Raffertie is derived from O'Rafferty, which was a Gaelic name meaning descendent of Rafferty. This moniker has its roots in the Old Gaelic element 'rathbheartach' meaning judicious or useful. It is composed of the two elements 'brethamh' meaning judge and 'rathfheartaigh' meaning ruler or power.
Rafftery is another variant of Raftery, derived from O'Raithbheartaigh which ultimately means 'descendent of Raithbheartach' meaning judicious or useful. This name may have been used to denote a person who acted as a judge or arbiter in their community.
Famous people with the name Raftery
- Bill Raftery: best known for his broadcasting career as a college basketball analyst for CBS and yes Network.
- Pat Rafter: Australian professional tennis player who reached a world ranking of World No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals in 1999.
- Joe Raftery: a former professional basketball player who was born in Ireland and moved to the United States to pursue professional basketball.
- Lee Rafferty: American director, producer, writer, and production designer, best known for his work on The Lord of the Rings films.
- Erin Raftery: American actress and exemplary physique athlete who had lead roles in various Showtime and Lifetime TV movies
- Lochlann Raftery: lead vocalist for the neo-soul/rock band The Raftery Brothers.
- Kevin Raftery: American sound editor and producer who has won several Emmy Awards for his work on shows such as The Simpsons and Tales from the Crypt.
- Aodhán Raftery: Irish poet, essayist, novelist, and critic, known for his works on the themes of religion, immigration, and identity.
- Patrick J. Raftery: US Navy lieutenant who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism in the Vietnam War.
- Philip Raftery: Irish sculptor who was known for his sentimental rural Irish figures.