O'Keeffe, (Irish: Ó Caoimh), comes from an IrishGaelic clan based most prominently in what is today County Cork, particularly around Fermoy and Duhallow. The name comes from caomh, meaning "kind", "gentle", "noble" Some reformed spellings present it as Ó Cuív and the feminine form of the original is Ní Chaoimh, as the primary sept of the Eóganacht Glendamnach, the family were once Kings of Munster from the 6th to the 8th centuries.
Coat of arms and motto forti et fideli nihil difficile on a stained glass window in Wexford by Harry Clarke
The original Caomh, from whom the family descend, lived in the early eleventh century, and was descended from Cathal mac Finguine, celebrated King of Munster and the most powerful Irish king of the first half of the 8th century. See the main article, Eóganachta, for more discussion, as well as Eóganacht Glendamnach, the specific sept of the family.
The O'Keeffes are famous for claiming descent from the goddess Clíodhna and have a beloved story about her marriage to Caomh (Franklin, pp. 81 ff). Her sister Aibell competed for his affections but Clíodhna ultimately triumphed using sorcery.
For all of their history the family has been strongly associated with County Cork. Originally the territory of the family lay along the banks of the Blackwater river, near modern Fermoy, and were active in the wars of the twelfth century between the O'Conors and the Eoghanacht dynasties of Munster.
However, the arrival of the Normans displaced them, like so many others, and they moved west into the barony of Duhallow, where their territory became known, and is still known, as Pobal O'Keeffe, where the senior branch of the family had their seat at Dromagh in Dromtarriff Parish.
The last chiefs of this branch were Domhnall O'Keeffe of Dromagh (d. c. 1655), who was prominent in the Catholic Rebellion of the 1640s, and his son Captain Daniel O'Keeffe, who was killed fighting for King James at the Battle of Aughrim in 1691. The family estates were confiscated in 1703, and sold to the Hollow Blades Company.
Even today, Pobal O'Keeffe is still the area in which the name is most common, with surrounding areas of County Cork also including many of the name. It remains relatively rare outside that county. In 1890, more than two-thirds of the births under the name are recorded in County Cork.
Like many of the dispossessed Irish nobility, the O'Keeffes were active in the service of the Catholic monarchs of Europe. In 1740 Constantine O'Keeffe (born c. 1670) was admitted to the French aristocracy on the basis of his Irish pedigree, and his long service. The bearers of the surname "Cuif", found in the Champagne district of northern France, are descendants of O'Keeffe soldiers.
Byrne, Francis J., Irish Kings and High-Kings. Four Courts Press. 2nd edition, 2001.
Charles-Edwards, Thomas M., Early Christian Ireland. Cambridge University Press. 2000.
Franklin, D., "Cliodhna, the Queen of the Fairies of South Munster", in Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, Volume III, Second Series. 1897. pp. 81 ff
MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families: Their Names, Arms and Origins. Irish Academic Press. 4th edition, 1998.
External links
O'Keefe Clan at OKeefeClan.org
O'Keeffe at the Irish Times
O'Keeffe family pedigree at Library Ireland
May 04, 2023
keeffe, ancient, irish, surname, caoimh, originregion, originireland, irish, caoimh, comes, from, irish, gaelic, clan, based, most, prominently, what, today, county, cork, particularly, around, fermoy, duhallow, name, comes, from, caomh, meaning, kind, gentle,. Ancient Irish surname o Caoimh O KeeffeOriginRegion of originIrelandO Keeffe Irish o Caoimh comes from an Irish Gaelic clan based most prominently in what is today County Cork particularly around Fermoy and Duhallow The name comes from caomh meaning kind gentle noble Some reformed spellings present it as o Cuiv and the feminine form of the original is Ni Chaoimh as the primary sept of the Eoganacht Glendamnach the family were once Kings of Munster from the 6th to the 8th centuries Contents 1 Naming conventions 2 History 3 o Caoimh 4 People named O Keeffe 5 Fictional characters 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Footnotes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksNaming conventions EditMain article Irish personal naming system Male Daughter Wife Long Wife Short o Caoimh 1 Ni Chaoimh Bean Ui Chaoimh Ui ChaoimhHistory Edit Coat of arms and motto forti et fideli nihil difficile on a stained glass window in Wexford by Harry Clarke The original Caomh from whom the family descend lived in the early eleventh century and was descended from Cathal mac Finguine celebrated King of Munster and the most powerful Irish king of the first half of the 8th century See the main article Eoganachta for more discussion as well as Eoganacht Glendamnach the specific sept of the family The O Keeffes are famous for claiming descent from the goddess Cliodhna and have a beloved story about her marriage to Caomh Franklin pp 81 ff Her sister Aibell competed for his affections but Cliodhna ultimately triumphed using sorcery For all of their history the family has been strongly associated with County Cork Originally the territory of the family lay along the banks of the Blackwater river near modern Fermoy and were active in the wars of the twelfth century between the O Conors and the Eoghanacht dynasties of Munster However the arrival of the Normans displaced them like so many others and they moved west into the barony of Duhallow where their territory became known and is still known as Pobal O Keeffe where the senior branch of the family had their seat at Dromagh in Dromtarriff Parish The last chiefs of this branch were Domhnall O Keeffe of Dromagh d c 1655 who was prominent in the Catholic Rebellion of the 1640s and his son Captain Daniel O Keeffe who was killed fighting for King James at the Battle of Aughrim in 1691 The family estates were confiscated in 1703 and sold to the Hollow Blades Company Even today Pobal O Keeffe is still the area in which the name is most common with surrounding areas of County Cork also including many of the name It remains relatively rare outside that county In 1890 more than two thirds of the births under the name are recorded in County Cork Like many of the dispossessed Irish nobility the O Keeffes were active in the service of the Catholic monarchs of Europe In 1740 Constantine O Keeffe born c 1670 was admitted to the French aristocracy on the basis of his Irish pedigree and his long service The bearers of the surname Cuif found in the Champagne district of northern France are descendants of O Keeffe soldiers o Caoimh EditBrian o Cuiv o Caoimh Eamon o Cuiv born 1950 Irish politicianPeople named O Keeffe EditAlfred Henry O Keeffe 1858 1941 New Zealand artist and art teacher Batt O Keeffe born 1945 Irish politician Ben O Keeffe born 1989 Doctor and New Zealand Professional Rugby Referee Bob O Keeffe 1881 1949 Irish hurler Ciaran O Keeffe born 1971 English psychologist specialising in parapsychology and forensic psychology Corey O Keeffe born 1998 footballer Daniel O Keeffe judge born 1943 barrister and Irish High Court judge 2 Dan O Keeffe 1907 1967 Irish footballer Danny O Keefe born 1943 American singer songwriter based in Seattle Washington David O Keeffe lawyer Irish jurist professor of European law David O Keeffe footballer born 1962 former Australian rules footballer Declan O Keeffe born 1972 retired Irish footballer Denis O Keeffe Irish hurler Dennis O Keeffe British professor of social science Eamonn O Keefe born 1953 English born Irish former footballer Eileen O Keeffe born 1981 Irish former international hammer and discus thrower Eoin O Keeffe born 1979 Irish composer based in the UK Frank O Keeffe 1896 1924 Australian cricketer Georgia O Keeffe 1887 1986 American artist Ger O Keeffe born 1952 retired Irish footballer Hank O Keeffe 1923 2011 American basketball player Irene O Keeffe Irish camogie player Jessy Keeffe born 1996 Australian rules footballer James O Keeffe 1912 1986 Irish Fine Gael politician Jim O Keeffe born 1941 Irish politician Jonathan O Keeffe born 1977 birth name of Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers Kain O Keeffe born 1987 Australian actor Kerry O Keeffe born 1949 Australian cricketer and sports commentator Kevin O Keeffe footballer born 1952 former Australian rules footballer Kristin Bair O Keeffe born 1966 American novelist Lachlan Keeffe born 1990 Australian rules footballer Laurence O Keeffe 1931 2003 British diplomat ambassador to Czechoslovakia during the Velvet Revolution Miles O Keeffe born 1954 American actor Molly O Keefe born 1986 American author Natasha O Keeffe born 1986 English actress Ned O Keeffe born 1942 Irish politician Paddy O Keeffe born 1864 Irish hurler Padraig O Keeffe 1887 1963 Irish traditional musician Pat O Keeffe 1883 1960 English boxer Patrick O Keeffe politician died 1973 Irish politician Patrick O Keeffe writer born 1964 Irish American short story writer Peggy O Keefe 1928 2019 Australian Scottish pianist Rhys O Keeffe born 1990 Australian rules footballer Sean O Keeffe born 1982 Australian rules footballer Susan O Keeffe Irish politician and journalist Timothy O Keeffe 1926 1994 Irish editor and publisher Trevor O Keeffe 1968 1987 Irish man who was murdered while hitchhiking in FranceFictional characters EditThis section is empty You can help by adding to it May 2021 See also EditClidna Eoganachta Eoganacht Glendamnach His Majesty O Keefe a 1954 adventure film as well as the 1952 book of the same name from which the film derives Irish nobility Irish royal familiesReferences EditFootnotes Edit o Caoimh Sloinne 5 December 2015 Archived from the original on 13 April 2018 Retrieved 13 April 2018 The Clare Champion Bibliography Edit Byrne Francis J Irish Kings and High Kings Four Courts Press 2nd edition 2001 Charles Edwards Thomas M Early Christian Ireland Cambridge University Press 2000 Franklin D Cliodhna the Queen of the Fairies of South Munster in Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society Volume III Second Series 1897 pp 81 ff MacLysaght Edward Irish Families Their Names Arms and Origins Irish Academic Press 4th edition 1998 External links EditO Keefe Clan at OKeefeClan org O Keeffe at the Irish Times O Keeffe family pedigree at Library Ireland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title O 27Keeffe amp oldid 1152476160, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
