By: MICHELLE K. SMITH | Published Friday, December 14, 2012, 11:49 AM | Updated Friday, December 14, 2012, 11:49 AM
Irish Derivation Variations of spelling include MacCabe, McAbe, and MacAbe
Name Meaning- The name comes from the Irish word “cab” or which means cap or helmet.
Counties associated with the name- Cavan, Louth, Monagham
Coat of arms motto- The motto in Latin is “aut vincere aut mori” which translates to “either to conquer or to die.”
Interesting Facts The McCabes who came over as mercenaries in the 14th were given the name
McCabe because of their peculiar helmets.
McCabe is one of the most numerous names in Co Cavan
William Putnam McCabe- Member of the United Irishmen
Billy McCabe- American baseball player
Gerard McCabe- Northern Irish actor
General Information The McCabes came to Ireland from Scotland during the 14 century as mercenaries for the O’Reilly and the O’Rourke clans in Co Cavan. McCabes received lands in recognition for their work holding back English soldiers. They lost their lands in Co Cavan after the Battle of Aughrim in 1691. Many McCabes migrated to the United States, settling along the eastern seaboard during the eighteenth century. Some of them migrated to Canada during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Several McCabes participated in the American Civil War. After the Famine, many McCabes emigrated from Co Cavan to the United States. Emigration continued to the beginning of the twentieth century.