The surname McCabe is of patronymic origin, a name derived from the name of a Father.
As descendant's of the Viking's, the name probably comes from a Norse personal name, the family being a sept of the MacLeod's of Lewis, a Clan whose ancestry was Norse, and were descended from Leod, a nephew of Magnus, the last Norse King of the Isle of Man, who lived in the thirteenth century. From his two sons, Tormod and Torquil, came respectively the Harris and Lewis branches of the MacLeod's, a Highland Clan whose ancestral lands are associated with the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde.
Black's, "The Surnames of Scotland", states that the McCabe's were a branch of the MacLeods of Arran, but are now primarily Irish, having migrated to Ireland in the 14th century, to serve as 'GallowGlasses', or mercenaries, in the service of the O'Reillys and O'Rourkes in Breffny.
The earliest mention of the name is in the Irish annals in 1368 when Hugh MacCabe was slain, but Scottish records contain many references to the name, one instance being in 1689, when John McKape (McCabe or McRebbb, as his name is also spelled) was sent as a prisoner to Edinburgh Castle. The family is also related to many others, all septs of the MacLeods of Lewis. These include the MacAulays, MacCallums, MacCorkindales, MacNicholls, MacCaskills and Lewis's.
There is also the appearance of M'Caybba, a rare, but still existing spelling, in the Book of the Dean of Lismore.
County Cavan has remained the principal home of their descendants, but they have also established themselves in Counties Monaghan, Leinster, Leitrim and Meath.
BLAZON OF ARMS: Vert, a fess wavy between three salmon naiant argent.
TRANSLATION: Vert (green) denotes industry, Constancy, Fearlessness and Friendship. A fess signifies the Knight's Military Belt. Salmon represent a connection with the sea.
CREST: A demi-griffin segreant.
MOTTO: Aut vincere aut mori (Latin); Bua no Bal (Gaelic)
TRANSLATION: Either to conquer or die.
GAELIC TRANSLATION OF "McCABE": 'Son of the Hooded One' - This being a reference to our rather militaristic past.
To paraphrase Winston Churchill -
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