Mac Amhalghaidh variant forms of the name. A modern variant is Mac Amhalaí. Another is Mac Amhalaidh. Another variant is Mac Amhalghadha. Variant forms of "Mac Amhalghaidh" and "Mac Amhalghadha" include Mag Amhalghaidh and Mag Amhalghadha. "Mac Amhalghaidh" translates into English as "son of "Amhalghaidh"", or "son of "Amhalghadh"". The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The personal name "Amhalghaidh", also spelt "Amhalghadh", is an old Gaelic name, and is of uncertain origin and meaning. "Mac Amhalghaidh" is a masculine surname. The form of this surname for unmarried females is
McCabe (surname) "MacNab", "McNab", which are from the Gaelic "Mac an Aba", "Mac an Abadh". Bearers of the surname are considered to have settled in Ireland from the Western Isles of Scotland sometime around 1350, employed as gallowglass (mercenary soldiers) to the O'Reillys and O'Rourkes which were the principal septs of Breffny. According to a pedigree written by Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh, the MacCabes descend from the MacLeods. In time the MacCabes became a recognised Irish sept, with the chieftain being called "Constable of the two Breffnys". According to MacLysaght in the mid 20th century, statistics then showed that the surname was more