[3] Irish scholar John O'Donovan alleged that it was named after a Steafán (Stephen) who was the son of Odhar, the progenitor of the Maguires, and a figure from the 10th century.

The problem however is that the name Stephen didn't arrive into Ireland until the 12th century when the Normans brought it in with them, and in which case came in the form of Estievne, which became Gaelicised as Stiabhna, Sdíomnha, Stiana, Steimhín and Sleimhne.

[1][3] The modern Irish forms of Steafán and Stiofán are much later borrowings from English.

The closest parallels to other gaelicised Norman names in baronies would be Bharóideach (Barretts) and Choistealach (Costello).

[1] The MacCaffery (Irish: Mac Gafraidh) sept of the Clan Maguire were centered at Ballymacaffry within this barony.