The Duffy Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Duffy, its origins in Ireland, and the story behind a Duffy family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Duffy coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Duffy name
Duffy comes from Ó Dubhthaigh, "descendant of Dubhthach", a personal name from dubh, "black, dark". Several septs bore the name, the best known in County Monaghan, where Duffy is still the most common surname. Others were in Donegal and Roscommon.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Duffy name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Duffy name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Scotland; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Duffy family history
The complete Duffy pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Duffy name FAQ
What does the Duffy name mean?
Descendant of Dubhthach, "dark one". Common variants include O'Duffy, Duffey, Duff.
Where does the Duffy surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Scotland.
Is there a Duffy coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Duffy crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Duffy coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).