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Mahaffey is a surname of Scottish origin, and is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic name Mac Dhuibhshithe. It came from Clan Macfie on the island of Colonsay in Scotland, but the clan originated in Ireland. There the name is found largely in County Donegal, although the U.S. boasts the largest Mahaffey population. There are multiple recorded immigrations to the U.S. of Mahaffey families, including an arrival in Charleston of a Martin Hugh Mahaffey, Revolutionary War veteran, and another arrival in Baltimore whose descendants founded Mahaffey, Pennsylvania. The name in Scots Gaelic means "Son of the dark man of peace" (Rarely translated as "Son of the black fairy"). The clan was historically known for their life along the islands on Scotland's western coast and Ireland, although the name Mahaffey is now relatively obscure. To look more into Mahaffey history, look online for information about Clan Macfie, the people from whom Mahaffey originated.