This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Coffey family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Coffey Family History

Coffey Surname Meaning

Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cathbhadha ‘descendant of Cathbhadh’ a byname meaning ‘battle tent’. This is related to Ó Cathbhuadhaigh ‘descendant of Cathbhuadhach’ (‘battle victorious’) or Ó Cathmhogha ‘descendant of Cathmhugh’ (‘battle slave’).

Additionally, it is a shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cobhthaigh ‘descendant of Cobhthach’, which is a byname meaning ‘victorious’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Coffey family from?

You can see how Coffey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Coffey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Coffey families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 463 Coffey families living in Lancashire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Coffey's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Coffey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Coffey surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Coffey ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Coffey. 16% of Coffey men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Coffey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Coffey were Labourer and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Coffey | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    16%
  • Builders Labourer
    10%
  • Barman
    5%
  • Labourer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    3%

What Coffey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 154,000 census records available for the last name Coffey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Coffey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Coffey

Passenger Lists

There are 24,000 immigration records available for the last name Coffey. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Coffey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 34,000 military records available for the last name Coffey. For the veterans among your Coffey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Coffey military records

You've only scratched the surface of Coffey family history

Discover More

What is the average Coffey lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Coffey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Coffey in 1942 was 31, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Coffey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Coffey ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Coffey family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial