Rafferty — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Raifeartaigh
Meaning: 'wielder of prosperity' (from robharta, flood-tide)
Traditional stronghold: Donegal, Tyrone
Pronunciation: RAF-er-tee; Irish Ó Raifeartaigh: oh RAF-ar-tee
History of the Rafferty name
Ó Raifeartaigh, earlier Ó Raithbheartaigh and Ó Robhartaigh, derives from a personal name built on robharta, the spring flood-tide, taken to signify abundance or prosperity. The sept belonged to Donegal, where the Ó Robhartaigh family were hereditary keepers of the Cathach, the famous psalter-relic of St Colmcille, on Tory Island. From Donegal the name spread through Tyrone and the Oriel counties of Armagh, Monaghan and Louth, and Ulster remains its stronghold. Rafferty is often confused with the Connacht name Raftery, which is of separate origin. Heavy nineteenth-century emigration made Rafferty a familiar name in Scotland, the north of England and America.
Variants: Raverty · O'Rafferty
Famous bearers of the name
- Gerry Rafferty — Scottish singer-songwriter of Irish parentage, creator of Baker Street.
- Seán Rafferty — Northern Ireland-born broadcaster, long-time voice of BBC Radio 3's In Tune.
- Frances Rafferty — American film actress of the MGM era.
Related names from the same part of Ireland: O'Neill · Gallagher · Quinn · Boyle · Doherty · Sweeney · O'Donnell · Duffy