McCabe (surname)

[4] Patrick Woulfe considered that the surname was possibly derived from a nickname, meaning "a cap", or "hood".

[5] Henry Harrison suggested the name was from the Gaelic Mac Aba, meaning "son of the Abbot".

[4] According to a pedigree written by Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh, the MacCabes descend from the MacLeods and king Sitric Silkenbeard.

[5] Bearers of the McCabe and MacCabe surnames are considered to have settled in Ireland from the Western Isles of Scotland sometime around 1350.

According to MacLysaght in the mid 20th century, statistics then showed that the surname was more numerous in the Breffny area than anywhere else.