CASSIDY
In the British Isles, the surname Cashidy is chiefly found in Ireland, where it originates from the Gaelic language and reflects a Christian, Celtic heritage.
The name is a direct descendant of the Gaelic patronym Ó Caiside, which translates literally as “male descendant of Caiside.” The personal name Caiside is believed to derive from the Gaelic word cas, meaning “curly‑haired” or “curly‑headed,” and as such the surname is frequently associated with individuals who possessed or inherited such a trait.
During the medieval era the epithet was anglicised to O’Cassidy. In County Fermanagh, within the Ulster province, the O’Cassidys served as physicians to the kings of Ulster, particularly for the Clan Maguires, between the years 1300‑1600. Their reputation for scholarship grew well into the nineteenth century, and a considerable proportion of the family entered the priesthood, thereby reaffirming their standing within the local ecclesiastical hierarchy.
Beyond medicine and religion, members of the family contributed to literary endeavours. Rory O’Cassidy, then Archdeacon of Clogher, is recorded as assisting in the compilation of the 15th‑century “Annals of Ulster.” In the eighteenth century Thomas Cassidy, an expelled friar of the Augustinian Order, served as a soldier of fortune in the French Army and later authored several accounts of his experiences; he was also known by the name MacCassidy, though this was probably a nickname or disguise.
The Cassidys have a long history of opposing British influence and rule in Ireland. William Cassidy, who died in 1870, was an American politician who founded the United Irishmen of America. According to contemporary accounts, the organisation attempted to use its influence to prevent the United States from supporting Great Britain during the World Wars.
The earliest documented spelling of the surname is found in the name Giolla Moduda O’Cassidy, a Gaelic poet dated to the year 1143, during the reign of King Stephen, known as “The Count de Blois.”
Typical given names associated with the Cassidy surname
Male
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Anne
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Cassidy in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Cassidy are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Jammie Dodger.
There are approximately 14,546 people named Cassidy in the UK. That makes it the 608th most common surname in Britain. Around 223 in a million people in Britain are named Cassidy.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Cassidy
- Raffey Cassidy - Actress
- Raquel Cassidy - Actress
- Katie Cassidy - American actress, singer, Fashion Blogger
- Natalie Cassidy - Actress
- David Cassidy - American actor and musician (1950 to 2017)
- Eva Cassidy - American singer (1963 to 1996)
- Grace Cassidy - Actress
- Shaun Cassidy - American television producer, screenwriter, actor, and singer
- Cathy Cassidy - Author of young adult fiction
- Mick Cassidy - Rugby league football player and coach
- Jake Cassidy - Welsh football player
- Sheila Cassidy - Medical doctor, writer and activist
- Jamie Cassidy - Football player
- Ian Paul Cassidy - Actor
- Nigel Cassidy - Football player (1945 to 2008)
- Larry Cassidy - Musician (1953 to 2010)
- Kirsten Cassidy - Actress
- Damian Cassidy - Irish hurler and Gaelic football player
- George Cassidy - Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham; Archdeacon of London
- Matthew Cassidy - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.